PORT OF SPAIN – Barbados were grinding themselves into a strong position against Trinidad and Tobago as 17 wickets fell on the second day of the WICB Regional Four-Day semi-final yesterday.
Starting the day on 208 for eight, Barbados added only 15 before being dismissed but hit back strongly to bowl out Trinidad and Tobago for a measly 84.
With a lead of 139 runs, Barbados then rallied to 116 for five at the close, an overall lead of 255 runs at Queen’s Park Oval.
Jonathan Carter was leading Barbados’ charge with an unbeaten 38, while Kyle Hope got 30 and teenaged Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite 22.
Trinidad and Tobago were clinical at the start of the day as left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh (four for 52) and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul (four for 55) shared the two wickets to fall.
However, their batsmen faltered in the face of incisive bowling from left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who claimed five for 28, and pacer Carlos Brathwaite, who finished with four for 12.
Only Test opener Adrian Barath with 21 got a decent start but he was third to fall, caught by Carlos Brathwaite at mid-off attempting to clear the in-field off Benn.
Justin Guillen slammed a four and a six in ten but was lbw to Benn at 14 for one before Marlon Barclay edged fast bowler Tino Best behind for five, at 20 for two.
Barath and Dwayne Bravo, both seeking long innings ahead of next week’s first Test, then added 27 for the third wicket as they sought to rebuild.
But Barath fell and Bravo followed shortly afterward, bowled by Carlos Brathwaite, after scratching around for 72 minutes over 13 off 63 balls.
With the hosts tottering at 63 for four, Benn and Carlos Brathwaite scythed through the middle and lower order to send the last six wickets tumbling for 21 runs.
Barbados’ second innings was off to an equally terrible start when left-handed opener Omar Phillips (8) drove fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (two for 35) to Barclay at point with the score on eight and captain Kirk Edwards (4) was bowled by a beauty from the same bowler.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Hope then combined to add 38 for the third wicket, taking the Barbadians to tea at 42 for two.
After the break, Brathwaite was taken smartly at forward short leg by Barclay off Kantasingh before Hope and Carter arrived to steady the innings again. (CMC)
