DERICK BISHOP was the man of the day with a seven-wicket haul for Brathwaite Construction Republic Bank St Catherine against ESAF Pickwick, but the rains and overcast skies dominated the day with not a single ball being bowled in the top-of-the-table clash between Empire and Sagicor UWI at Bank Hall.
Persistent showers forced the Empire and UWI players to remain in the pavilion throughout the afternoon. At 4 p.m. play was called off for the day.
Barbados players Ryan Hinds and Kevin Stoute have returned from England where the Blues toured as part of their 100th anniversary. However, both are leaving for the United States this week and are unavailable for this fifth-series clash.
Empire lead the standings with 75 points, well clear of the second-placed UWI, who have 44.
There was also no play at Wildey in the bottom-of-the-table clash between hosts LIME and Guardian General Barbados Youth.
LIME are one point from the bottom with 26 points and Barbados Youth, who are exempt from demotion, are last on five points.
The LIME players must be complimented for a great effort in getting the ground in order doing all the necessary mop-up operations but all that was to no avail. The two captains consulted and the day’s play was officially called off at 1:08 p.m.
Over at Queen’s Park, Massy Stores Spartan brightened a wet, cloudy day by reducing Counterpoint Wanderers to 86 for seven on a day shortened by 40 overs due to early persistent rain.
The Parkites made hay while the sun shone as the race to remain top of the Elite Division heated up. With the top teams ICBL Empire and Sagicor UWI inactive at Bank Hall and with Spartan bunched with four teams in third position on 42 points and Wanderers breathing down their knecks three points behind, this fifth round encounter is pivotal.
The Dayrells Road men were asked to bat first under conditions favourable to seam bowling but got off to an encouraging start as they lost their second wicket with the score on 54.
Opener Craig Holder was the only batsman out to a seamer when he was bowled by Andre Gill for eight with the score on 22.
After a stand of 32 for the second wicket, the innings top-scorer so far Shane Moseley (24) was run out when captain Renaldo Arthur did not answer his call for a single to midwicket.
The home team’s spin twin of left-arm Andre Marshall and off-spinner Chaim Holder scented blood and went for the kill as Wanderers lost their next five wickets for the addition of only 32 runs.
Over at Foursquare, Bishop’s spin and guile toppled Pickwick for a modest 174 to earn his team maximum bowling points.
In 6.5 overs before the close St Catherine reached five for the loss of Shane Proverbs, caught at leg slip by Kyle Hope from the bowling of off-spinner Shane Jones.
Bishop took seven for 60 off 28.1 overs to help destroy Pickwick’s innings after a half-century stand by the Hope brothers – Kyle and Shai – threatened to give the home team the advantage.
At Paragon, despite a sterling, 100-run eighth-wicket partnership between Mario Rampersaud and Kemar Smith, CGI Maple enjoyed a satisfactory day against the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme.
After winning the toss and inviting the hosts to bat, Maple’s bowlers, Khalid Springer and Kirk Brome, in particular, exploited the overcast conditions to dismiss their opponents in 53 overs for 170.
The visitors closed on 12 without loss. (MK)
