ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – A cluster of wickets in the final hour, following a resolute maiden first-class hundred from Jonathan Carter, trumped more impressive bowling from Shane Shillingford to give Barbados a slight edge over Windward Islands in their semi-final of the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday. Off-spinner Ashley Nurse has so far taken two for seven from five overs after beanpole left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn made an early breakthrough, as the Windwards, replying to Barbados’ first innings total of 212, reached 31 for three at the close on the opening day at Windsor Park.
This followed a gutsy 116 from Carter that propped up the Barbados batting, as Shillingford continued to bamboozle regional batsmen with his whippy off-spin, grabbing six for 81 from 34 overs, carrying his tally of scalps for the season to 52.
Left-hander Carter finally delivered on his promise, adding some beef to the visitors’ total, after they slumped to 128 for eight about 45 minutes before tea.
He reached the milestone from 152 balls, when he swung Shillingford to the mid-wicket boundary for the last of his eight fours.
Carter also struck three sixes in his 192-ball stay that lasted 219 minutes, saving Barbados from embarrassment with a ninth-wicket stand of 91 with Kemar Roach.
West Indies fast bowler Roach fell for 24, becoming the last of Shillingford’s scalps, before Windwards captain Liam Sebastien wrapped up the innings about 50 minutes after tea, when he had Carter caught at slip.
Barbados went for the jugular almost immediately, employing Benn with the new ball alongside Roach and it paid early rewards.
Benn had Tyrone Theophile caught low at slip for four in the fifth over before Nurse was brought into the attack from the next over, following a fruitless and expensive first two overs from Roach.
Nurse struck in his second over, when left-hander Devon Smith, the most prolific batsman this season, was caught at silly point for 14, and tightened Barbados’ grip, when Johnson Charles essayed a loose drive and was bowled for five.
Andre Fletcher, not out on one, and nightwatchman Garey Mathurin, not out on four, battled through another four overs before stumps were drawn.
Earlier, Carter came to Barbados’ rescue, after they chose to bat and suffered another batting meltdown.
The visitors stumbled early, when opener Rashidi Boucher was caught behind off left-arm spinner Mathurin for 17 and their captain Kirk Edwards was caught at slip off Shillingford for a duck two overs later, leaving them 29 for two.
They continued to wobble, when they reached 67 for four at lunch, after Kraigg Brathwaite was caught at short-leg off Shillingford for 15 and Kevin Stoute was caught at short cover off the same bowler for nine.
After the interval, the problems continued for the Barbadians, when Shane Dowrich was caught behind off Sebastien for five before Nurse was bowled by Shillingford for three and Javon Searles was stumped off the same bowler for three, leaving the visitors 94 for seven.
Benn came to the crease and ushered Barbados over the 100-run threshold with Carter before Mathurin bowled him for six.
Roach joined Carter and spent nearly two hours at the crease, frustrating the Windwards, as Barbados reached 166 for eight at tea.
After the break, they continued to wear the Windwards’ nerves thin, taking the total past 200, before Roach was caught at mid-wicket off Shillingford.
Mathurin ended with two for 35 from 13 overs and Sebastien finished with two for 47 from 16.2 overs.
Windwards reached the semi-finals after they ended second in the preliminary competition on 60 points and Barbados advanced when they finished third on 48 points.
The team that wins or accumulates the greater number of points in the semi-final qualifies for the final, starting next Thursday at a venue to be determined

BARBADOS 1st innings
K. Brathwaite c Theophile b Shillingford 15
R. Boucher c wkp. James b Mathurin 17
K. Edwards c Smith b Shillingford 0
J. Carter c Smith b Sebastien 116
K. Stoute c Fletcher b Shillingford 9
S. Dowrich c wkp. James b Sebastien 5
A. Nurse b Shillingford 3
J. Searles stp. James b Shillingford 3
S. Benn b Mathurin 6
K. Roach c Johnson b Shillingford 24
M. Cummins not out 0
Extras: (b-9, lb-3, nb-2) 14
Total: (all out, 75.2 overs) 212
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-29, 3-46, 4-64, 5-75, 6-84, 7-94, 8-121, 9-212.
Bowling: Pascal 7-1-21-0 (nb-2); Johnson 8-2-16-0; Shillingford 31-4-81-6; Mathurin 13-5-35-2; Sebastien 16.2-1-47-2.
WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st innings
D.S. Smith c Boucher b Nurse 14
T. Theophile c Nurse b Benn 4
J. Charles b Nurse 5
A. Fletcher not out 1
G. Mathurin not out 4
Extras: (b-1, lb-1, nb-1) 3
Total: (3 wkts, 15 overs) 31
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-21, 3-27
Bowling: Benn 8-4-6-1; Roach 2-0-16-0; Nurse 5-2-7-2 (nb-1)
Position: Windwards trail by 181 runs with seven first innings wickets standing.