Barbados defeated host Guyana by 36 runs in the lone encounter which got underway in the fourth Regional tournament of the West Indies Cricket Council for the Blind at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

Needing to score a whopping 173 from 15 overs to record their first victory in the tournament, Guyana who got a rousing start from skipper Patrick Howard (40) and Oliver Kerr (16), who posted 40 for the first wicket from 4.2 overs before Kerr was run out could only manage 126-4 from their 15 overs.

Guyana’s 50 was posted in similar time to that of Barbados’, 5.3 overs as Howard and new batsman Robert Weekes (21) who were being watched by joint defending champions Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and are classified as B3 players (partially sighted), wasted no time in taking the fight straight to the opposition with some positive running between the wickets.

Weekes went via the run out in the 12th over with the score on 95 leaving Howard and company a herculean task of scoring 78 runs in three overs, which proved too much for Howard, who was also run out for his top score of 40 in the 13th over, with his team 99-3.

Kevin Douglas (11) was stumped off the bowling of Cheryl Griffith (1-19) at 126 in the final over, which ended as the final score, with Leroy Phillips unbeaten on 10, as Barbados recorded a comfortable 36 runs victory in the lone game of the day.

The host having earlier won the toss and opting to field first, restricted the team from the Land of the Flying Fish to 172-2 from their 15 overs in a rain reduced encounter at the fastest drying venue in the Caribbean.

Openers Tremaine Forte (41) and Ricardo Manning (60 not out) had earlier posted 82 for the first wicket for Barbados, with Forte taking 16 runs from a Ganesh Singh over on a heavy outfield, before being run out as he ambled through for a second run in the eight over.

Manning and new batter Grenville Carter (02) then added pressure on the home team, posting the 100 in the ninth over, as they sought to score quickly, before Carter was sent back hit wicket to the bowling of Kerr at 112 in the 10th over.

Manning, who was on 46 at the fall of Carter’s wicket, was joined by Holden Forde who struck seven fours in his unbeaten 51, and together they added a quick fire 60 for the third wicket from just 5.2 overs, ensuring their team handed the opposition a formidable total to chase for victory.

Kerr ended with 1-18 from his two overs, whilst Howard conceded 22 runs from his three overs for Guyana, but in the end, their efforts were not rewarded with a handsome victory as the home team batting made heavy work of their target, succumbing by 36 runs.

The other scheduled match between joint defending champions Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago which was scheduled to be played at the Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary, was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Action in the tournament which has been formatted into a 20 overs affair due to the weather, will continue today with Guyana and Trinidad squaring off at the same venue, whilst Jamaica and Barbados will do battle after.