ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Barbados discard Martin Nurse lit up the National Stadium here with an awesome display of power-hitting as West Indies Masters crushed the World Masters by 52 runs in the opening Twenty20 match of the Grenada Cricket Classic yesterday.

The 24-year-old left-hander, who has not played for his country in two years, slammed a frenetic 55 from just 20 balls to inspire West Indies Masters to 195 for five off their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, the World Masters could muster only 143 for six off their quota of overs, with legendary fast bowler Curtly Ambrose clinching two for 14 from three miserly overs.

The match was the first of a double-header, with Barbados beating Grenada by six wickets in the second encounter.

Nurse was one of three batsmen getting half-centuries as former West Indies wicketkeeper Junior Murray top-scored with 61 while opener Phil Simmons chipped in with 55.

A strongly built lad, Nurse smashed three fours and six sixes batting at No.5 to give the innings momentum in the middle overs.

Murray, who opened the batting, lashed nine fours and two sixes off 61 balls while Simmons hit three fours and four sixes off 31 balls, as they shared a second-wicket stand of 78.

When the scored slipped to 127 for three, Nurse dominated a 66-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Keith Arthurton who scored 14.

Ambrose then swiftly removed openers Mal Loye (10) and Niall O’Brien (0) as the World Masters slipped to 23 for three but Stuart Law and Rob Bailey resisted with a 70-run stand.

Bailey stroked 45 from 24 balls with six fours and two sixes while Law hammered three fours and three sixes in his 47-ball knock.

Arthurton claimed Law and leg-spinner Rawl Lewis (2-25) prised out Bailey in quick succession to snuff out the last sign of serious resistance.

In the second match, Nurse hit 26 and Renaldo Kellman got 21 as Barbados easily chased down Grenada’s 102 all out off 19.4 overs, reaching 104 for four with five overs to spare.

Ronald Etienne top-scored for the hosts with 25 while off-spinner Ashley Nurse captured two for eight.