GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Justin Greaves upstaged a memorable spell from left-arm spinner Larry Edward and a half-century from Dwight Thomas, bowling Barbados back into their WICB Regional Under-19 match on Monday, putting them on the brink of a first innings lead over reigning champions Windward Islands.
Greaves finished the opening day of the first round match at the Demerara Cricket Club with six wickets for 33 runs from 10 overs, as Windwards, replying to Barbados’ first innings total of 161, reached 137 for nine at the close. Thomas fought a lone battle for the Windwards with an unbeaten 69, and carried their hopes of upstaging the Barbadians on the second day.
Sunil Ambris scored 24 and Emmanuel Peter made 21, but the Windwards were again undermined by feeble batting.
Edwards had rocked the Barbadians with five for 42 from 15 overs, and fellow left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge, their captain, took three for 36 off nine overs, as Barbados were bowled out about an hour after lunch, having been sent in to bat.
Several of the Barbados batsmen got starts without carrying on. Neil Browne was not out on 26, their captain Kraigg Brathwaite, a Test batsman, and Kyle Mayers, also scored 26, Anthony Alleyne made 23, and Shane Parris got 21.
Greaves then hijacked the Windwards’ reply, removing Jamaal James caught at first slip for seven, Hodge caught behind for a duck, and Keon George also lbw for a duck in the space of six deliveries, leaving the defending champions 16 for three.
Peter and Ambris stemmed the fall of wickets, but four wickets, two to Brathwaite bowling his uncomplicated off-spin, left the Windwards wobbling on 90 for seven.
Ray Jordan added 40 for the eighth wicket with Thomas, ushering his teammate to his 50, but Greaves bowled him and Bronte Bess for three and a duck respectively, in the final hour, as the Windwards’ slide continued.
Earlier, Barbados made a steady start, after play started half-hour later than was scheduled due to a wet outfield caused by overnight rain.
Brathwaite, the West Indies Under-19 captain, and Parris comfortably put on 46 for the first wicket.
But they ran into trouble on 68 for three, after Shaquille Browne trapped Parris for 21, and Edward held a return catch to dismiss Brathwaite before he bowled Shai Hope for nine.
Alleyne led a recovery for the Barbadians in a stand of 39 for the fourth wicket with Greaves before he was lbw to Edward, leaving Barbados 102 for four at lunch.
After the interval, the Barbados batsmen continued to struggle against the slow bowling and they lost their last six wickets for 50 runs.