The Barbados Cricket Association President’s XI, led by established left-handers Jonathan Carter and Ryan Hinds and wily off-spinner Ashley Nurse, gained a consolation win over Trinidad and Tobago in the final encounter of their three-match goodwill series Friday afternoon at Pine Basin.
Carter’s top score of 53 off 44 deliveries and Hinds’ measured 49 off 46 set up a Barbados total of 150 for six off 20 overs before Nurse grabbed four for 27 to restrict Trinidad and Tobago to 137 for eight and seal a 13-run victory.
Trinidad and Tobago won the first two matches under lights at Kensington Oval as the Barbados selectors tried out a number of emerging players.
But it was the sure picks that made the biggest impact in the hosts’ sole victory.
For the third straight time, the President’s XI batted on winning the toss, but were in early trouble as Rashidi Boucher and Kirk Gibson failed to grasp the opportunity to shine.
Both fell to Yannick Ottley’s left-arm spin, Gibson for a duck in the second over and Boucher for nine at 16 for two in the fourth over. Both batsmen were caught in the deep.
Carter and Hinds rebuilt sensibly and their partnership of 86 in 12.1 overs laid a sound foundation for a competitive total.
The 24-year-old Carter hit three fours and three sixes, one sailing over the large square boundary.
Hinds’ busy innings, spiced with two fours and a six, provided the perfect complement to Carter’s enterprise.
When Carter lost his middle stump to Navin Stewart at 102 for three in the 16th over, Kyle Mayers, yet another all-rounder with realistic international ambitions, maintained the impetus with 16 off six balls, including two fours and a six.
Hinds was eventually run out one short of a half century in the final over.
Adrian Barath launched Trinidad and Tobago’s pursuit with a flurry of boundaries and the visitors raced to 50 without loss.
But the introduction of Hinds’ left-arm spin slowed their progress and medium-pacer Mayers removed left-handers Justin Guillen, caught off a skier, and Evin Lewis, bowled on the back foot, to shift the balance.
Carter, too, made a telling intervention with his zippy medium pace, Barath slapping his first ball to cover at 66 for three off 11.1 overs.
Jason Mohammed compiled 21 off 13 balls but the lower order could not rally as it did in the opening match, with Nurse’s thoughtful variations sealing the win.
He removed Daren Ganga to a fine catch by Gibson at extra-cover off a swirling ball and Mohammed and Stewart off sliced edges to third man.
The 23-year-old fittingly ended the visitors’ resistance by claiming Ottley, who lofted to deep midwicket, and running out Sherwin Ganga from long-off.