BARBADOS’ BOWLING and fielding were simply not up to scratch while an improved batting effort just wasn’t enough either.
And the docile Kensington Oval pitch only compounded the Bajans’ woes as they conceded first innings points for the second straight match in the 2011 Headley-Weekes first-class cricket championship by failing to defend a sizeable total.
As a result, England Lions, led by a masterful 186 from Man Of The Match James Taylor, also amassed their second successive 500-plus total in the high-scoring drawn encounter that ended yesterday.
The jockey-size Taylor, 21, who rode his luck on Sunday’s penultimate day when he was dropped twice, piloted England Lions to 538 in responseto Barbados’ challenging first innings total of 471 with a marathon ten-hour knock in which he stroked 13 fours off 417 balls.
Resuming from 97 overnight with England Lions on 349 for four, Taylor wasted little time in reaching his seventh first-class century in 389 minutes off 245 balls after play started 20 minutes late because of rain.
Taylor and wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, who also posted his 50, batted through to lunch, taking the total to 412 for four. But Barbados should have removed Taylor at least three times by the run out route had Jason Holder, on two occasions and Kyle Hope once at mid-off, hit the stumps on the non-striker’s end as Taylor scampered cheeky singles.
Stoute broke the 141-run fifth-wicket partnership in his first over after lunch, trapping Kieswetter on the boot, ending his knock of 75, which contained four fours and two sixes off 178 balls in 213 minutes.
At that stage, the visitors needed 59 more runs for the lead but captain Ryan Hinds, who had bowled 15 consecutive overs before lunch, opted for the uncomplicated leg-spin of Shamarh Brooks.
New batsman Liam Plunkett survived a confident appeal for a catch behind off Brooks, but ran two byes when wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich threw the ball in the air to celebrate what he thought was an edge.
Afterwards, Plunkett gave Taylor admirable support, adding 46 runs for the sixth wicket in 86 minutes before he was bowled for 13 by the persevering Holder, his only success in 33 fast-medium overs that cost 101 runs.
But after benefiting from an overthrow to lock the scores, Taylor gave the England reserves the lead in grand style with a classic square driven boundary off Edwards, who soon trapped James Harris leg before wicket for a “duck” as England Lions went to tea on 479 for seven.
On resumption, Brooks, who was finally switched to the southern end and actually took over the captaincy when Hinds left the field, got his first wicket. He produced a sharp leg-break thatTaylor edged to Dale Richards at slip.
Brooks claimed a second scalp in his next over when fast bowler Jade Dernbach skied a catchto Pedro Collins inside the midwicket boundary but tailender Danny Briggs took a liking to him, punishing every long hop and full toss as he quickly gathered 38 not out off 49 balls with six fours.
While the England Lions’ last-wicket pair at the crease, Barbados fielded with a man short for a few overs until Hinds returned to the field. A miserable second consecutive day in the field finally ended when part-time off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite, with his fifth ball, pinned Maurice Chambers leg before wicket on the back foot for his second first-class wicket.
Veteran left-arm seamer Pedro Collins ended with three for 89 off 35 overs while his sibling, Fidel Edwards, on his return to first-class cricket aftera year’s lay-off because of a back injury, which required surgery, took two for 88 in 29 overs and Brooks, two for 92 in 23 overs.
