Dwayne Snith’s superbly crafted 86 from 57 balls laid the foundation, before a clinical bowling and fielding display put the finishing touches on an emphatic Barbados victory over Jamaica in their key Caribbean Twenty20 cricket contest here Saturday night.
Smith’s career-best was spiced with seven fours and six sixes and even though there was a wobble in the middle order, Barbados’ total of 157-7 off 20 overs on a sluggish Sir Vivian Richards Stadium pitch was hugely satisfying.
Jamaica’s pursuit never really got off the ground as Tino Best produced a frenetic new ball burst that claimed two scalps.
Equally important in Jamaica’s demise was Alcindo Holder’s direct hit run out of West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels for a second first-ball duck in a row.
Jamaica were never able to recover from these early punches and faded meekly to 95 all out off 16.5 overs to lose by 62 runs.
Smith, confidence oozing through his body after a prolific New Year, was simply magnificent, a straighter bat now lending more consistency to his commanding stroke play.
After Barbados won the toss, it was captain Kirk Edwards who first broke free by launching Nikita Miller for a six over long on in the second over.
Smith soon hit the accelerator himself, spanking Krishmar Santokie’s left arm swing for two fours, the second of which scorched the grass as it raced through the covers.
Jamaica’s fielding let them down throughout the innings and Smith could have been run out in the early exchanges if Kennar Lewis’ throw from mid off had hit the target.
Miller eventually halted the opening stand at 20 midway through the fourth over, as Edwards got into a tangle trying to make room and could only spoon a catch to cover point.
Jonathan Carter had a forgettable innings, misstumped and dropped before he miscued a slog-sweep off Miller to leave Barbados uncertainly poised at 31-2 in the sixth over.
Smith, though, found a level-headed ally in wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and the pair shared a match-altering partnership of 85 in ten overs.
Smith changed the course of the innings with 18 runs off Samuels’ first over.
A faster ball was deflected deftly to fine leg for four before Smith swatted successive sixes, the first sailing over midwicket into the crowd on the Eastern grass banks and the second hit flat and straight like a lazer over long off.
Smith continued to pepper the boundaries with ease but nearly perished one short of a half century, Odean Brown failing to come up with a difficult return catch as Smith got a leading edge.
His landmark duly arrived, off 31 balls with six fours and three sixes, and Barbados hit the halfway mark at 66-2.
Dowrich, rotating the strike beautifully, opened his shoulders to smack Brown’s leg-spin over midwicket for six as the partnership passed 50.
The return of Miller and Santokie could not halt the rampage with Smith greeting both with huge hits over the leg side. Miller disappeared for 15 runs and Santokie for nine as Barbados reached 113-2 after 15.
Smith seemed well set for the second ever century in regional Twenty20s before he picked out deep backward square leg trying to smack a Nkrumah Bonner long hop for his seventh six.
The innings dipped badly in the next three overs as Dowrich and Carlos Brathwaite were run out and Holder and Ashley Nurse fell in pursuit of a grandstand finish.
Dowrich, after compiling 15 off 16 balls, was just short seeking a single on Brathwaite’s dab to short third man.
Former captain Ryan Hinds restored Barbados’ momentum with an unbeaten 18 off nine deliveries, including two sixes over long on off a final over from Andre Russell that cost 15.
Jamaica’s reply started encouragingly when Lewis stroked Best sweetly over long off for six but that was as good as it got for the Jamaicans.
Lewis fell soon afterwards, top-edging a tardy pull stroke off Best to third man where Brathwaite held a fine catch, setting the standard for a slick Barbados fielding effort.
Holder, at mid on, landed the killer blow as Samuels misjudged badly to be run out by two yards.
When Best’s clever slower ball duped Danza Hyatt into chipping to midwicket, the innings was in crisis at 23-3 in the sixth over.
Bonner topscored with 27 off 31 balls but Barbados never let Jamaica back into the game and the victory was sealed as Sulieman Benn and Nurse claimed two wickets apiece.
Benn summed up Barbados’ belief with a fine running catch low down to end Bonner’s resistance and the joyful mood in the camp was obvious in the broad smiles and rhythmic celebrations that greeted each wicket.
