Sagicor UWI handed in a protest against a new playing regulation but then let their bats do the talking on the first day of the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) new season.
The BCA has angered the four-time defending champions by limiting University of the West Indies players in the LIME Elite Division Championship to a maximum of five playing years.
Just before the toss of their match against Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) yesterday, UWI captain Kyle Corbin notified the match referee Stephen Proverbs that they were playing under protest.
They are also contending that notification of the regulation came much too close to the start of the season.
On the pitch, the champions batted all day after being sent in to reach a formidable 316 for eight from 80 overs. In the process UWI collected four maximum batting points.
They were led by attacking half-centuries of 74 by Corbin and 55 from wicket-keeper/batsman Chad Walton.
Walton and Anthony Alleyne added an enterprising 92 for the first wicket.
Early on, when medium pacer Marlon Welcome-Goodman, one of four newcomers in the BDFSP side, over-pitched he was lifted over long-off for the first six of the game. The next ball was struck down the ground for a four.
Alleyne was content to play the anchor role and looked in good nick. Walton continued to strike the ball aggressively. He also had a six over extra-cover off another newcomer in off-spinner Ackeem Clinkett.Â
Left-arm spinner Ravendra Persaud removed both in the second and third balls of his fourth over.
Walton, looking to go over the top, got an outside edge and was well taken low at cover by Clinkett. He faced 69 deliveries, striking five fours and wo sixes.
Alleyne, who made 33, was brilliantly caught one-handed at slip by Dario Boyce to his right, seeking to steer a ball to backward point.
Raymon Reifer, with a fluent 44 and Kaveem Hodge added a worthwhile 69 for third wicket either side of tea which was taken at 115 for two. Eventually, Hodge was caught and bowled from a firm drive off debutant Kemar Smith for 30. Reifer used his feet but chipped Persaud 3-98) straight to short mid-wicket.
Corbin and Stephen Jacobs raised the tempo, posting 92 in quick time for the fifth wicket. After being put down on 21, at slip by Persaud off Smith, Corbin lashed five sixes and four fours in his 49-ball knock.
In attempting another six, he was caught in the deep off Clinkett, who took three for 44.Â
In the next over, Jacobs lost his off-stump on 38 to fast bowler Renaldo Griffith’s fourth delivery of a new spell.
