Leewards fight back, Barbados slump again
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Kieran Powell missed out on his seventh first-class century, but Leeward Islands batted all day to defy Jamaica on the opening day of their second round, Regional Four-Day match in St Kitts on Friday.
The West Indies left-hander hit 91 as the Leewards, opting to bat first, reached 205 for six at Warner Park when stumps were drawn in the day/night affair.
In the other day/night fixture at the National Stadium in Guyana, Barbados’ poor start to the season continued when they were bundled out for 184, with Roston Chase top-scoring with 55.
At the close Friday night, Guyana were making a strong reply at 35 without loss.
Leeward Islands owed much to their attractive opener Powell, who held the innings together as Jamaica’s bowlers made constant inroads.
He faced 181 balls in just under four hours at the crease and struck 14 fours. After losing opening partner Montcin Hodge (5) with the score on 24, Powell added 68 for the second wicket with Mali Richards (17).
Once the pair were separated, however, the Leewards lost five wickets for 44 runs, with Powell nicking pacer Andrew Richardson behind, to leave the innings dangling at 136 for six.
The experienced Tonito Willett then produced a timely unbeaten 51, partnering with Hayden Walsh Jr (20 not out) in an unbroken stand of 69, to keep the Leewards afloat.
Captain Tamar Lambert (2-24), fast bowler Jerome Taylor (2-33) and Richardson (2-34) all picked up two wickets apiece.
Barbados, meanwhile, struggled yet again after opting to bat first. They were undermined by debutant fast bowler Raun Johnson who took three for 38 and West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who picked up three for 38.
Johnson knocked over Rashidi Boucher for one in the day’s fourth over with the score on six before Chase and captain Kraigg Brathwaite (19) repaired the innings with a 41-run second-wicket stand.
Once Brathwaite departed, Barbados lost three wickets for 11 runs to slump to 58 for four just after lunch. Chase, who struck eight fours in an innings that lasted 166 balls in 208 minutes, put on a crucial 59 for the fifth wicket with Shane Dowrich (35), before Johnson and Permaul ran through the middle and lower order.
