ANOTHER REIFER is starting to make his mark in club cricket in Barbados.
Nineteen-year-old Raymon Reifer followed up two centuries last year with his third century of the 2010 season to put leaders Sagicor UWI in a strong position of 220 for two against Wanderers on a shortened opening day of their penultimate round LIME Division 1 match.
The tall, elegant left-handed batsman finished the day in which only 47 overs were bowled, on exactly 100 not out, reaching his fifth century at this level off 131 balls in 178 minutes during the day’s final over with a single into the covers.
Brilliant hook
He has so far struck 11 fours and one six, a magnificent hook over square leg off former West Indies fast bowler Pedro Collins while featuring in an unbroken two-hour third-wicket partnership of 153 runs with his captain Omar Phillips, who hit three fours and two sixes in 65 not out off 89 balls.
Watched by his dad, Elvis, the former Barbados fast bowler, Reifer won the battle with his brother Chad Clarke-Reifer, the Wanderers’ left-arm orthodox spinner as he carried his aggregate past the 600-run mark. He twice square-drove him for boundaries during his wicketless ten overs which yielded 53 runs and also executed an exquisite cover drive off Collins.
“I just paced myself. It was difficult at times early in my innings batting against Collins with the new ball, but I fought it out and kept batting until things were easier,” said Reifer, who represented the Barbados Under-19 team over the past two years.
With play starting 90 minutes late because of wet areas on the outfield, UWI, seeking a second consecutive title with a nine-point cushion at the top of the standings, capitalised on the generosity of Wanderers, who sent them in on an easy-paced pitch.
Early wicket
UWI did lose an early wicket when Nekoli Parris, forced into opening because of the late arrival of Phillips, was trapped leg before wicket by Collins for two but
Reifer and Kyle Corbin, who made 37, then added 60 for the second wicket.
Corbin paid the price for going after Gary Belle in his first over as he dragged an off-break to short mid-wicket, a few balls after he had lifted the bowler for a straight six.
Afterwards Reifer took centre stage but he also had a few slices of luck along the way. On 35, he survived a difficult stumping opportunity by wicketkeeper Renaldo Arthur after the ball brushed his pads and was also dropped at first slip by Jason Greene in an eventful over from Belle.
Just after bringing up his 50 with eight fours off 74 balls, lady luck again smiled on him as all the Wanderers fielders thought he was run out by a throw from his sibling Clarke-Reifer on the deep backward point boundary as he attempted a second run.
But umpire Andrew Sandiford ruled in his favour and also turned down a confident leg before wicket appeal against Phillips as he swept at Belle.
