BARBADOS PRIDE WIN BY NINE WICKETS

Article by David Harris

Barbados Pride defeated Jamaica Scorpions by nine wickets in their third-round match of Cricket West Indies Four Day Championships at Kensington Oval on Friday afternoon. Chasing 119 to win their third game in the Championships, Barbados easily reached the victory target, scoring 121 for the loss of one wicket with a day to spare, Jonathan Drakes scored 52 not out and the captain Kraigg Brathwaite was unbeaten on 47. 

Earlier, the Scorpions were bowled out for 180  in their second innings for after starting the day on 26 for one  wicket, they lost four wickets and added 33 runs the first hour of the morning session. 

Kirt Mackenzie  was caught by wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher off  left- arm seamer Ramon Simmonds for  15,  Jermanine Blackwood  was bowled by medium pacer Matthew Forde  before he scored and the captain  John Campbell edged a ball from Simmonds into the gloves of Boucher after he had scored 25.

At that stage the Scorpions were struggling at 59 for four wickets, in the 20th over,  Javelle Glenn steadied the innings with  66 before he was dismissed by left-arm  spinner Jomel Warrican, and Jeavor Royal smashed 29 from 17 balls that contained two fours and three sixes.

Brad Barnes was trapped leg before off the off-spin of Pride skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 14, while Daniel Beckford was bowled by left arm spinner Jomel Warrican for only nine runs. Odean Smith smashed two sixes before he was caught by Demetrius Richards at midwicket for 15 off off-spinner Chaim Holder.

Glenn was the eithth wicket to fall, caught by substitute fielder Kemar Smith to give Warrican his second wicket of the innings. Marquino Mindley only made one before he was caught by Brathwaite off Holder. The innings ended when Royal was caught by another substitute, Shaquille Cumberbatch after attempting a lofted cover drive

Warrican pickled up three wickets for 42 runs from 11.2 overs , Simmonds captured two wickets for 32 runs, and Chaim Holder chipped in with two wickets for 52 runs.

In their victory chase, the Pride lost opener Zachary McCaskie for just four runs after a a pull to square leg was taken by Royal. Brathwaite and Jonathan Drakes then put on 106 runs to seal the win, making it two wins on the trot in the Championship. 

After the match the coach of the Barbados Pride Vasbert Drakes said the team were happy to won the match.

“Even though we have won the match with a day to spare, it was not an easy victory; we are quite happy to win this game after losing badly to Guyana Harpy Eagles in our first game.”

The West Indies Championship resumes on March 5th, following a two-week break.