Article by David Harris
Barbados Pride have the advantage over the West Indies Cricket Academy at the close of play on the second day of the second day in the day/night match in Cricket West Indies (CWI) Four Day Championships at Kensington Oval on Wednesday night.
The Academy were 111 runs for three wickets off 39 overs in reply to Barbados’ formidable total of 581 runs nine wickets declared. The Academy’ innings got off to a rocky start; they were stumbling at 22 for two wickets in the 11th over after opener Ackeem Auguste (four) was caught at mid-wicket by Matthew Forde off left-arm seamer Ramon Simmons, and the captain Teddy Bishop (nine), was trapped lbw by Forde.
Rivaldo Clarke who is unbeaten on 69 and Justin Jagessar (26) repaired the damage with a partnership of 85 before Jagessar was bowled off-spinner Chaim Holder. So, far Clake has struck eight attractive fours and a couple of towering sixes during his innings, but the Academy will be under pressure when play resumes on the third day as they are trailing Barbados by 470 runs.
Barbados started the day at 354 for three wickets and amassed their highest total (581) in regional first-class cricket since the creation of the Shell Shield tournament in 1966.
Kraigg Brathwaite who was on 143 runs overnight scored an excellent double century (212); the West Indies Test captain faced 335 balls, and counted 19 fours during an innings that lasted eight hours and 24 minutes, Brathwaite’s long stay at the crease ended when he was caught was caught at short fine-leg by Jediah Blades off pacer Johann Layne in second over after the lunch break.
Brathwaite shared a fourth wicket partnership of 86 with Demetrius Richards (38) and added a further 86 runs for the fifth with Leniko Boucher (60).
Layne captured four wickets for 85 runs off 25 overs, and left-arm spinner Josh Bishop picked up 4-137 from 37.3 overs.