Brathwaite, Hope take sting out of Scorpions
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite struck his 14th first-class hundred as Barbados Pride took command of their first-round Regional First Class Championship game against Jamaica Scorpions here yesterday.
The patient right-hander finished the day unbeaten on 111 as the hosts reached 262 for two on the opening day of the encounter at Kensington Oval here.
Brathwaite was joined by West Indies counterpart Shai Hope, who stroked an attractive 77, while the stylish Shamarh Brooks ended the day on the verge of his second first-class half-century, unbeaten on 49.
The Scorpions attack had little answer to a dominant Pride batting display and will need to improve in order to come back into the game.
They did manage to get the breakthrough inside the first hour after winning the toss and opting to bowl first, when Kyle Corbin attempted to go over the top with left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and was caught at mid-on by Marquino Mindley.
However, that was the end of any major success for Scorpions as Brathwaite then anchored two century stands to stamp Pride’s authority.
Firstly, he put on 131 with Hope, a partnership which dominated the next two sessions and ended on the stroke of tea, when Hope was caught at forward short-leg by Brandon King off off-spinner John Campbell.
The right-hander faced 157 balls and counted nine fours and two sixes in a shade under three hours at the crease.
He played with attacking elegance against the Scorpions attack, with the majority of his runs coming through sweetly-timed off-side strokes.
Brathwaite, meanwhile, dropped on 31 by Campbell at slip off Miller just after lunch, reached three figures after tea and has so far faced 286 deliveries, in nearly six hours and hit eight fours.
On Hope’s demise, Brooks joined Brathwaite to add exactly 100, carving out three fours and a six off 99 balls as Pride ended the day strongly.