A composed batting display by Barbados saw them beating the United States of America (USA) by 111 runs in a rain–interrupted game of the West Indies Cricket Board, President’s Cup limited overs competition at the Providence National Stadium yesterday.
The game was delayed for 15 minutes following overnight and early morning rain and Barbados, after winning the toss elected to bat.
They totalled 288-5 off their allotted 50 overs and the USA, set a revised target of 260 from 42 overs using the Duckworth/Lewis system, reached 149-9 off 42 overs.
When Barbados batted, the USA got an early breakthrough when Patrick Browne was caught by wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson off Timray Allen for 10 and the total on 29.
The experienced Ryan Hinds came to the crease but Barbados had added 11 more runs when the skies opened.
Another 22 minutes were lost to the rain and the umpires decided to shorten the lunch break and extend play to 17:15 hours to accommodate 50 overs for each team.
When Barbados resumed their innings, Hinds and Richards tore into the bowling which they smashed to all parts of the ground. Hinds reached his half century off 62 balls with five fours and soon afterwards, Richards too reached the land mark from 70 balls and a similar number of boundaries as his partner.
The pair took the score to 163 before the USA team tasted success again when Richards was stumped off the bowling of Captain Orlando Baker for a well-played 65.
Barbados then lost Hinds who, having reached 84, attempted one too many big shots and was caught by Dennis Evans at cover off the bowling of Baker.
Hinds, later named man of the match, stroked seven boundaries and two massive sixes.
Dwayne Smith, who scored his second half century of the tournament, added 33 runs with Jonathan Carter who was bowled by Kumar Nandalall for 18.
Smith and Kenroy Williams then took the score to 277 before four wickets fell in the space of four runs.
Smith duly reached his second half century but subsequently was dismissed for a 49-ball 53 which was studded with two sixes and four fours as Barbados closed on 288-8 off 50 overs.
Bowling for the USA team Baker grabbed 4-46 while Allen, Nandalall and Barrington Bartley each picked up a wicket.
In replay, the USA were soon in trouble as opener Gowkarran Roopnarine was sent back by pacer Pedro Collins who had the young opener trapped lbw for two.
Baker entered and soon found himself back in the pavilion caught by Carter off
Best for 10.
The USA slumped to 46-4 when Smith trapped Wright lbw and Nikolai Charles bowled Evans for 14.
However, top scorer Aditya Thyaragan and Bartley added 69 runs for the fifth wicket before the USA crumbled.
Charles dismissed Bartley, caught by Smith for 26 with three fours and Thyaragan was out next ball for 42 caught by Williams off Charles who was on a hat-trick.
Thyaragan stroked only three fours as the tight bowling restricted him to singles and doubles alone.
In the next over Best snapped up the wicket of Dodson caught by Carter for 00 and the USA had lost three wickets in the space of six balls without a run being scored.
The USA’s score had reached 134 when the rains came again this time interrupting play for 45 minutes.
Following a consultation between the two on field umpires Eddie Nichols and Terrence Birbal and using the Duckworth/Lewis system, the USA needed
126 runs off six overs to pull off an improbable victory. The new target was now 260 off 42 overs.
Resuming their innings at 16:57 the USA were soon in more trouble and ended on 149-9 to lose by 111 runs.
Bowling for Barbados Charles captured 4/39 and Best 3/27 while Collins and Smith ended with a wicket each.
