BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Captain Kraigg Brathwaite missed out on his 11th first-class hundred as Barbados made slow progress on a rain-hit opening day of their fifth-round WICB Professional Cricket League match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

At the close at Kensington Oval, the hosts were 182 for four, a total largely built on the disciplined Brathwaite’s top score of 72.

The right-hander faced 232 balls in 4 3/4 hours at the crease, and counted six fours.

He anchored two significant partnerships to give the innings impetus, posting 57 for the first wicket with Kyle Corbin, who scored 26 and a further 34 for the third wicket with Shai Hope, who got 12.

When Brathwaite was dismissed in the final session, Roston Chase and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich came together to add 54 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand.

Sent in, Brathwaite and Chase posted 49 for the opening stand, before rain forced an early lunch after it intervened 18 minutes before the scheduled break.

Corbin perished following the interval, caught at forward square-leg by Montcin Hodge off fast bowler Gavin Tonge, but rain again halted play half-hour after lunch.

Once play resumed, Barbados suffered another setback when Kirk Edwards was bowled off the inside edge for five with the score on 84 for two.

Brathwaite completed his half-century off 135 balls, in a shade under three hours with five fours, as the hosts reached 107 for two at tea.

Afterwards, Barbados lost two wickets for 10 runs in the space of 43 balls, to suffer a small slump. First, Hope was taken at slip by captain Devon Thomas driving at off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, and Brathwaite’s vigil came to end when he edged seamer Sherwin Peters to Orlando Peters at first slip.

Stumbling at 128 for four, Barbados were then bailed out by Chase and Dowrich, who saw them to the safety of the close with two handy innings.

In the other game at the Beausejour Cricket Ground yesterday, the Windward Islands Volcanoes, opting to bat first against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, reached 388 for eight at the close on the opening day of the fifth round of matches.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 388 for eight (Tyrone Theophile 136, Keddy Lesporis 83, Liam Sebastien 56; Imran Khan 3-90) vs T&T Red Force.