ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad, CMC – Pacer Pedro Collins took five for 32 and Sulieman Benn claimed four for 50 to spur Barbados to a commanding 10-wicket victory over Jamaica half hour after lunch on day three of their WICB first class match at Frank Worrell Oval yesterday.
Jamaica, overnight 65 for four and still trailing by two runs, were skittled for 120 as the two left-armers ripped apart the pre-round leaders’ batting.
Captain Tamar Lambert’s two-hour 21 off 98 balls provided the only real resistance on the day.
Barbados raced to their modest victory target of 54 off nine overs with Dale Richards slamming five fours and a six in an unbeaten 31 off 22 balls. Kraigg Brathwaite contributed 20 not out.
Barbados leapfrog Jamaica into top spot with one round of the competition remaining.
The Bajans have completed their six-match programme with 57 points while Jamaica remain on 48 points from five matches.
The Jamaicans now need to win their final match, against Trinidad & Tobago starting next Friday at Progress Park in Grenada, to stop Barbados from claiming their 21st regional first-class title.
Collins, who had taken two wickets on Saturday, produced a magical spell of controlled swing bowling from the north end to destroy any hopes of a Jamaican fightback.
After five successive maidens, the veteran made a crucial double strike by removing Carlton Baugh (18) and Jon-Ross Campbell (0) in the space of three balls.
Both batsmen edged drives, Baugh deflecting to Dale Richards, who pouched a fine low catch at first slip, and Campbell to Kevin Stoute at third slip.
West Indies spinner Benn, in his second match after recovering from surgery on both knees, reduced Jamaica to 85 for seven with a beauty that David Bernard was forced to play. The all-rounder edged to a delighted Richards at slip.
Collins’ fifth wicket was the crucial scalp of the dogged Lambert, who tried to become more aggressive but only tickled a catch to wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich.
Chairman of the West Indies selectors, Clyde Butts, was on hand to see the performance of Collins, who played the last of his 32 Tests for the West Indies back in July 2006.
The 33-year-old finished the season with 26 wickets, the most by a fast bowler and his awesome morning spell read 12-8-11-3.
The Jamaicans were in danger of falling below 100 when Benn earned an LBW verdict against a tentative Odean Brown at 98 for nine.
Left-hander Andrew Richardson opened his shoulders to hit an unbeaten 23 but the innings folded when Jason Dawes played across Benn’s spin and feathered to Dowrich.
Richardson was on the receiving end when Barbados pursued their target.
Richards swatted him over long-off for a six in the first over to set the tone.
The big fast bowler conceded 37 runs from his three overs as Richards and Brathwaite ensured their team surged to victory while handing Jamaica their first defeat of the season and improving their head-to-head record against them in the past 10 years to seven wins, seven losses and two draws in 16 meetings.
Richards ended the season with a tournament-leading 457 runs.
