CASTRIES – The Windward Islands caught superbly yesterday as they skittled out Barbados for 90, then cruised to a nine-wicket victory on the third day of their regional day/night match at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia.
Every Barbadian second-innings wicket fell to a catch in the outfield, as Kraigg Brathwaite’s men fell to a number of injudicious shots in the season’s first match.
Just like in the first innings when defending champions Barbados totalled 213, Brathwaite was the top scorer, but this time his tally of 15 did little to help the team avoid an embarrassing loss with a day to spare yesterday.
Left-arm speedster Kenroy Peters was the chief wrecker for the Windwards with five for 16 off 12 overs.
Fast bowler Nelon Pascal picked up three for 42 off 11.4 overs and his new-ball partner, another left-armer, Delorn Johnson, collected two for 28 off nine overs.
Only two other Bajan batsmen, Rashidi Boucher and Roston Chase, reached double figures, each scoring 14 as wickets fell like ninepins.
Brathwaite, the 21-year-old Barbadian captain and West Indies opener is no stranger to staying at the crease, and knew how important his wicket was, but was sent back via a superb one-handed catch at slip by the Windwards’ Tyrone Theophile.
It didn’t get much better after that.
Boucher, who started the day on six, was brilliantly caught by wicket-keeper Lindon James on the run as he miscued a hook off Delorn Johnson.
Chase, pushing forward meekly, was caught at the wicket by James off Johnson, while left-hander Jonathan Carter, expected to hold up the innings in a time of danger, was caught at second slip by Theophile off Pascal for only six.
The Windwards then made light work of the required 52 for victory, with Johnson Charles smashing 33 against a deflated Barbados bowling line-up. Left-hander Devon Smith was the lone man out, trapped leg before by Miguel Cummins for two.
Theophile also scored eight, as Charles took the lead role in reaching the easy target.
(BA)
