BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Javon Searles’ four-wicket haul, coupled with senseless Windward Islands batting, helped Barbados to a handsome 39-run in their second match of the Caribbean Twenty20 Trophy here Sunday night.
Chasing Barbados’ 159 for six in the second game of the doubleheader at Kensington Oval, Windwards paid the price for their hasty approach and perished at 120 for nine from their allotted overs.
Searles, in his first T20 for Barbados, cashed in on the Windwards’ ineptitude to finish with four for 19 while off-spinner Ashley Nurse claimed two for 23.
The victory was Barbados’ second and sealed their spot in the semi-finals of the competition while the loss was Windwards’ second, eliminating them from the tournament.
West Indies one-day batsman Andre Fletcher top-scored with a whirlwind 33 but after his departure, the remainder of the Windwards inning collapsed.
Earlier, Alcindo Holder hammered an unbeaten 46 from 23 balls with five fours and three sixes to boost Barbados after they were sent in to bat.
It was his 64-run fifth wicket stand with Dwayne Smith which rescued Barbados from a position of 82 for four in the 13th over.
The right-handed Smith cracked three sixes in scoring 24 from 15 balls before departing to a catch at the wicket.
Opener Dale Richards had given Barbados a purposeful start, scoring 29 from 23 balls with three fours and a six in a partnership of 36 with Jason Hinds (10).
Richards top-edged a catch to third man in the seventh over before Hinds was run out, leaving Jonathan Carter and Ryan Hinds to add 25 for the third wicket.
While Carter stroked 26 from 25 balls with two sixes, Hinds got just three but both fell within the space of three balls with just one run added to leave Barbados in a spot of bother at 82 for four.
Holder and Smith then collaborated to rally the Barbados innings and put them on course for a competitive total.
Medium pacer Craig Emmanuel was the Windwards’ best bowler with three for 14.
The visitors had a terrible start when left-hander Devon Smith scooped left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds to point to fall for two with the score on 14.
Fletcher and Johnson Charles then counterattacked before the latter was run out for 15 in the sixth over at 34 for two.
The right-handed Fletcher continued to play with abandon, striking three fours and a six off 17 balls. His innings ended softly, however, when he missed a full delivery from Nurse and was lbw at 51 for three.
From there, it all went downhill for the Windwards. Captain Darren Sammy (16) and Emmanuel (14) raised hopes briefly with a stand of 25 for the fifth wicket but Searles accounted for both to end the resistance.
