Fast bowler Chad Batson claimed five for 51 from 12 overs yesterday as LIME took the honours on the opening day of the BCA’s Intermediate four-day championship final.
At stumps, Rockyln Hardware Isolation Cavaliers had reached 185 for six off 60 overs, a total built around former Barbados opener Dale Richards’ 69.
Today, Jahbari Doughlin will resume on an invaluable 42 and Ryan Clarke, one. Doughlin has been at the crease for two hours, faced 69 deliveries and struck five fours.
Invited to bat, first-time finalists Isolation Cavaliers’ openers Richards and captain Kevin Vaughan posted 25, before Vaughan, who is also the club’s president, was bowled by Kevin Callender for nine.
Richards and the patient Renaldo Holder, both centurions in the semi-final, added 62 for the second wicket with Richards playing several handsome strokes. He reached his half-century off 64 deliveries in 74 minutes, with seven fours.
Batson replaced Lonelle Hutson at the northern end and the in-form Richards greeted him with three fours including two savage cuts to third man and a pull through forward square.
However, Batson got his revenge in the first ball of his second over when Richards top-edged an attempted pull to short square leg from a delivery which hustled on to him. He batted for 90 minutes, faced 77 balls and struck 11 fours. The knock carried him to 1 077 runs for the season.
Two balls later, and with no addition to the total of 87, Jeremy Bowen was pinned lbw on the back foot as Batson continued to work up some pace.
Fifteen-year-old St Leonard’s student Khalil Herbert looked solid in defence for his six off 21 balls in 28 minutes. One ball before tea, he whipped Batson hard but straight to Callender behind square and Isolation Cavaliers went to the interval on 97 for four.
Soon afterwards, Holder was bowled by Batson for 17 from 78 balls in 105 minutes as the bowler collected four for 29 in his first spell of eight overs.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Doughlin and Wayne Alleyne put on a vital sixth wicket stand of 66.
Doughlin played two lovely drives through extra cover for boundaries off Anthony Morris, who came into the match with a tournament-high 75 wickets, but went wicketless yesterday.
Batson broke through by removing Alleyne lbw in his second spell for a fighting 27 about 20 minutes before the close.