ST GEORGE’S – West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn wrecked Windward Islands Volcanoes with a six-wicket haul as he inspired Barbados Pride to an emphatic 181-run victory at the National Stadium yesterday.
Playing in only his second game of the Regional First Class Championship, the 34-year-old Benn picked up six for 55 to send the hosts tumbling to 197 all out in their second innings, 40 minutes after the scheduled tea break following an extended post-lunch session.
He was supported by part-time off-spinner Roston Chase, who finished with two for 18.
Tyrone Theophile struck 47, West Indies limited overs batsman Johnson Charles got 44 and Miles Bascombe, 40, but Volcanoes collapsed from a promising position of 92 without loss to lose ten wickets for 105 runs.
With the victory, Pride moved into sole possession of third place with 44 points while Volcanoes remained fifth with 23 points.
Resuming the final day of the fourth round match on 40 without loss in search of an improbable 379, Theophile and Bascombe extended their first-wicket stand to boost Volcanoes’ hopes of saving the game.
The right-handed Theophile faced 102 balls in 132 minutes at the crease and counted two fours while Bascombe struck three fours and a six off 98 balls in nearly two hours.
Bascombe, who started the day on 20, fell ten balls before a second rain interruption forced an early lunch 102 for one and it was following the break that the rot set in.
Theophile perished in the third over after the break with seven runs added and Sunil Ambris suffered the indignity of a dreaded “pair” when he was bowled by fast bowler Tino Best at 110 for three in the following over.
Charles and Andre Fletcher, who scored 21, then posted 41 for the fourth wicket before the right-handed Charles nicked a drive at captain and seamer Kevin Stoute to Benn at slip with the score on 151 for four.
Benn then sliced through the innings with an incisive spell, with Fletcher eighth out at 173 after fighting 97 balls and 103 minutes. (CMC)
