KINGSTON – Barbados stumbled and stuttered before a disciplined half-century from Kirk Edwards guided themto a comfortable four-wicket win over the Leeward Islandsin their opening game of the WICB Regional One-Day Championship yesterday.
Cruising at 120 for two in pursuit of a tricky 240 for victory, Barbados slumped to 149 for five in the 34th over, before Edwards’ measured, unbeaten 68 saw them to victory in the Group B fixture at Sabina Park.
The 25-year-old right-hander, who played for West Indies “A” earlier this year, faced 95 balls and carved out five fours and a six. He anchored two key partnerships to steer his side out of trouble.
Captain Ryan Hinds stroked a fluent 51 while opener Dale Richards got a typically flashy 29 and wicketkeeper Carlo Morris an attacking 27 not out from 23 balls.
Earlier, Leewards finished on a disappointing 239 for eight off their allotted 50 overs, after being sent in to bat.
The innings was highlighted by a whirlwind 85 from veteran all-rounder Wilden Cornwall, who smashed eight fours and six sixes in an innings that required just 59 balls.
When Leewards slumped to 95 for four in the 30th over, he re-energised the innings in a 125-run, fifth-wicket stand with Omari Banks, whose 41 came from 57 balls.
Costly over
Cornwall lit up the innings with his cameo as he took a liking to the Barbados bowling, especially debutant off-spinner Marlon Graham.
In an over that cost 30, Cornwall smashed Graham for four successive sixes as the right-armer’s ten overs went for 69.
Montcin Hodge (39) and Javier Liburd (28) added 51 for the first wicket before seamer Kevin Stoute got the breakthrough in his only over of the innings, which yielded 15 runs.
However, left-arm spinner Hinds snared three for 31 and gangling West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn was stingy in his ten overs, taking two for 24, to keep the Leewards in check.
Richards then gave Barbados a rollicking start, stroking 29 from 23 balls with four fours and a six, in posting 39 from 40 balls for the first wicket with the sedate teenager Kraigg Brathwaite, who faced 34 balls for his 16 runs.
After Richards chased a wide ball and edged seamer Lionel Baker to Chesney Hughes at slip, Hinds added 32 with Brathwaite for the second wicket before the 17-year-old gave leg-spinner Martin a return catch at 71 for two in the 14th over.
The left-handed Hinds, who looked in good touch, shared a third-wicket stand of 49 with Edwards which seemed to put Barbados in an impregnable position at 120 for two in the 26th over.
Off-spinner Justin Athanaze (3-44) then struck crucial blows. He removed Hinds to a fine catch by Cornwall and then hit twice in the 34th over when Jonathan Carter (17) and Kevin Stoute (0) fell in successive deliveries, to leave Barbados stuttering at 149 for five.
Edwards came to his side’s rescue, adding 33 for the sixth wicket with Dwayne Smith (25) and an unbroken 58 in 7.4 overs for the seventh wicket with Morris.
Smith’s 25 came from 18 balls and included two fours and a six, but he cut medium-pacer Cornwall to Martin at point in the 39th over, while Morris spanked three fours and a six in his 27 from 22 balls.
Morris finished the match in style with a six over long off pacer Gavin Tonge. (CMC/EZS)
