CAVE HILL, Barbados, (CMC) – An unbeaten 78 from their captain Omar Phillips propelled Combined Campuses & Colleges to a five-wicket victory over Barbados yesterday, and first place as the preliminary competition in the WICB Regional first-class championship draws to a close. The left-handed opener struck eight fours and one six from 156 balls in close to 3 ¾ hours, as CCC, chasing 173 for victory, reached their target about 45 minutes after lunch on the third day of their seventh round match at the Three Ws Oval.
Phillips formalised the result with his six over long-off from the bowling of leg-spinner Shamarh Brooks to usher CCC to their fourth victory in their most successful season since entering the competition three years ago.
“We wanted to come out on top against Barbados,” said Phillips. “Matches against them, for obvious reasons, are always competitive.
“It was a low-scoring match, but I do not think the pitch was as bad as the totals of the two teams suggest. The batsmen simply did not apply themselves, and everybody tried to rush the game, and not relax and play it like a serious four-day game.”
The result meant that the CCC ended the preliminary competition with an unassailable 57 points to confirm their place in the semi-finals, where they will face Windward Islands, starting this coming Friday at this same venue.
“This year, our team spirit was good,and this helped us throughout the season,” said Phillips. “I have to give credit to the guys because we have a number of players from different places in this team.
“It was not easy. We stuck together like a family, and it is something that other cricket teams in the Caribbean should try to emulate.”
For Barbados, one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory ended with their only defeat of the season, and they finished on 27 points, erasing their slim chances of reaching the Final Four.
Phillips and Shacoya Thomas comfortably batted through the first 45 minutes, after CCC started the day on 36 for one, but two wickets in the space of five balls, raised the temperature.
Thomas was lbw to Stoute for 24 playing across the line, and in the following over, Kyle Corbin was caught behind off Jason Holder for a duck flirting outside the off stump.
Phillips continued to make steady progress, with two streaky fours off Holder past first slip to third man helping the scoring rate.
Shortly after the drinks break, veteran left-hander Floyd Reifer, the CCC player/coach, lbw to Stoute for seven to leave the home team on 84 for four.
Phillips found Nkrumah Bonner a steady ally, and reached his 50 from 121 balls with a single off left-arm fast-medium bowler Pedro Collins, as CCC reached 112 for four at lunch.
After the interval, Phillips and Bonner, sensing that victory was just around the corner, started to bat with enterprise and put on 66 for the fifth wicket.
Bonner however, became the first wicket for leg-spinner Nikolai Charles in two matches, when he was caught at mid-wicket for 32, pulling a long-hop straight into the hands of the fielder, with 23 needed.
Phillips and fellow Barbadian Carlos Brathwaite ensured there was no sensational comebacks from their opponents and galloped their side to victory with some attractive strokeplay.
Kevin Stoute was the most successful Barbados bowler with two wickets for 19 runs from seven overs.
CCC left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh was named Man-of-the-Match for match figures of 11 for 72, including a career-best seven for 22 in the first inning