GEORGETOWN – Test batsman Kraigg Brathwaite stroked his second century at Under-19 level to put Barbados on the verge of a commanding win over Guyana in the WICB Regional Championship on Day 2 here yesterday.
The right-hander, unbeaten on 55 overnight, produced a captain’s knock of 146 not out to get Barbados up to an imposing 297 for eight declared in response to Guyana’s paltry first innings of 87.
Pacers Justin Greaves (2-15) and Jerome Jones (2-31) then rocked Guyana’s top order before medium pacer Kyle Mayers (2-16) and left-arm spinner Shane Parris (2-13) undermined the middle order to leave the hosts tottering on 143 for nine.
Still requiring a further 67 to avoid an innings defeat, Guyana’s demise is expected to be a mere formality today at Everest.
Starting the day on 148 for three, Barbados suffered an early setback when Kyle Mayers drove off-spinner Lloydel Lewis (2-47) to mid-off after adding just seven to his overnight 34. He faced 69 balls in just over an hour at the crease and struck three fours and two sixes.
Brathwaite and Neil Browne then combined to add an important 66 for the fifth wicket, to ram home their advantage.
Prior to this innings, Brathwaite had compiled just 57 runs in the competition, but he batted with great purpose to strike ten fours in an innings spanning 335 balls and lasting a shade over 5 1/2 hours.
Browne, meanwhile, stroked 34 from 61 balls with five fours before falling to a catch at the wicket off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (4-76).
Brathwaite then assumed the bulk of the scoring before the declaration came 32 minutes after lunch.
Barbados quickly made inroads, as Jones bowled opener Kevon Boodie for eight and trapped Kwame Crosse lbw without scoring in the same over, to leave Guyana on 23 for two.
Wickets fell steadily as the hosts tumbled to 73 for seven and it was only a fighting 42-run, eighth-wicket partnership between Amir Khan (36) and captain Rensford Beaton (21) that saved the innings from collapse. (CMC)
