Carlton fighting back against Empire

A RESOLUTE, even, unbeaten 50 from Krishnan Hurdle trumped steady bowling from Shawn Graham to lead a fight-back for TeleBarbados Carlton against ICBL Empire.Hurdle struck seven boundaries from 118 balls in close to 2 1?2-hours for the top score, as Carlton, choosing to bat, were dismissed for 235 in their first innings.Graham, bowling his uncomplicated leg-spin, was the most successful Empire bowler in the Carlton innings with four wickets for 49 runs from 15.4 overs.Hurdle has linked with the Black Rock side this season, after BCL were demoted from Division 1 at the end of last year.It was to Carlton’s benefit that he has joined them, when he added 65 for the sixth wicket with Khalid Springer to transform the complexion of the visitors’ innings, after they dipped to 109 for five at tea.Springer made 38 before Graham bowled him about an hour and ten minutes after tea to leave Carlton 174 for six.Amal Nurse joined Hurdle, and they added a valuable 38 for the seventh wicket to add more beef to Carlton’s total before he was caught behind off Jason Hinds for 38.Hurdle continued to anchor the batting, and reached his landmark with a single to mid-on off Graham, but Carlton lost their last three wickets for 23 runs in the space of 13 balls in less than half-hour.