… 17 wickets tumble on second day
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Barbados were grinding themselves into a strong position against Trinidad and Tobago as 17 wickets fell on the second day of the Regional Four-Day semi-final here yesterday. Starting the day on 208 for eight, Barbados added only 15 before being dismissed but hit back strongly to bowl out T&T for a measly 84.
With a lead of 139 runs, Barbados then rallied to 116 for five at the close, an overall lead of 255 runs at Queen’s Park Oval.
Jonathan Carter was leading Barbados’ charge with an unbeaten 38 while Kyle Hope got 30 and teenage Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite, 22.
T&T were clinical at the start of the day as left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh (4-52) and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul (4-55) shared the two wickets to fall.
However, their batsmen then faltered in the face of incisive bowling from left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn who claimed five for 28 and medium pacer Carlos Brathwaite, who finished with four for 12.
Only Test opener Adrian Barath with 21 got a decent start but he was third to fall, caught by Carlos Brathwaite at mid-off attempting to clear the in-field with Benn.
Justin Guillen slammed a four and a six in 10 but was lbw to Benn at 14 for one before Marlon Barclay edged fast bowler Tino Best behind for five, at 20 for two.
Barath and Dwayne Bravo, both seeking long innings ahead of next week’s first Test then added 27 for the third wicket, as they sought to rebuild.
But Barath fell and Bravo followed shortly afterward bowled by Carlos Brathwaite, after scratching around for 72 minutes over 13 off 63 balls.
Tottering at 63 for four, Benn and Carlos Brathwaite then scythed through the middle and lower order to send the last six wickets tumbling for 21 runs.
Barbados’ second innings was off to an equally terrible start when left-handed opener Omar Phillips (8) drove fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (2-35) to Barclay at point with the score on eight and captain Kirk Edwards (4) was bowled by a beauty from the same bowler.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Kope then combined to add 38 for the third wicket, taking the Barbadians to tea at 42 for two.
After the break, Brathwaite was taken smartly at forward short leg by Barclay off Kantasingh before Hope and Carter arrived to steady the innings again.