… but Bajans strike back
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller’s five-wicket haul undermined Barbados yesterday and put Jamaica in pole position to win their second round Regional Four-Day clash at Sabina Park here. The wiry 29-year-old snatched five for 25 as Barbados tumbled from 81 for three before lunch to 157 all out, losing their last seven wickets for 76 and conceding a first-innings lead of 130 runs.
Barbados had struck back by the close, however, leaving Jamaica struggling at 78 for four and setting up a crucial third day of the encounter today.
Resuming at their overnight five for one, Barbados lost wickets steadily and only left-hander Omar Phillips with a fighting 67, showed any resistance.
He and Jonathan Carter, who scored 26, added 51 for the fourth wicket but once their partnership was broken by Miller, Barbados slumped in the post-lunch session.
Barbados lost Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite in the second over of the day, lbw for four to left-arm seamer Sheldon Cotterell with only 16 on the board.
Seven runs later, his partner and captain Kirk Edwards followed him, caught at the wicket for three off Cotterell who finished with two for seven from an impressive seven-over spell.
When experienced left-hander Ryan Hinds edged pacer Andre Richardson (2-30) to Simon Jackson at second slip without scoring, Barbados were in turmoil at 30 for three.
However, Phillips and Carter repaired the innings with a measured effort, allowing Barbados to inch their way back.
Phillips, who played two Tests for West Indies during the bitter players strike three years ago, faced 150 balls in a 207-minute stay at the crease and struck seven fours while Carter stroked three fours in his 50-ball innings.
When Carter became Miller’s first victim taken by Richardson off the sweep, Barbados never recovered and Phillips held the innings together before he was last out, popping a catch to cover attempting a pull off Richardson.
Jamaica’s openers Danza Hyatt and Simon Jackson then weathered a testing spell of fast bowling from Tino Best and Fidel Edwards, to add 57 for the first wicket.
Hyatt cracked four fours and a six – a hook over backward square off Best – and faced 64 balls while Jackson, who survived fierce blows to the hand and chest, stuck it out to make 22 from 67 balls.
Windies pacer Kemar Roach (2-9) removed both to catches at the wicket as Jamaica stumbled to 58 for two and out-of-favour Test batsman Brendan Nash (7) and Donovan Pagon (5) then went cheaply as the hosts limped to the close.