BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A half-century from Dwayne Smith failed to inspire Barbados, and they suffered another setback in their preparation for the Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, when English county Hampshire prevailed in a nail-biting, three-wicket victory on Saturday.
Smith struck three fours and two sixes in the top score of 52 from 45 balls, as Barbados, choosing to bat, posted a modest 135 for five from their allocation of 20 overs in the practice match contested at the Three Ws Oval.
West Indies One-day selectee Kirk Edwards made 27, but no other batsman passed 20, as Johannes Myburgh was the most successful bowler for Hampshire with two wickets for eight runs.
Tino Best then scalped two for 24, but Myburgh completed a tidy all-round performance with 50 from 41 balls that included four boundaries, and Liam Dawson gathered 27, as Hampshire won off the last ball of the match.
The two sides will meet again this coming Thursday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua during the first leg of the CT20.
Barbados, beaten finalist in last year’s competition, face Leeward Islands in their opening match on Tuesday however.
Scores:BARBADOS 135 for five off 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 52, Kirk Edwards 27; Johannes Myburgh 2-8)
HAMPSHIRE 136 for seven off 20 overs (Johannes Myburgh 50, Liam Dawson 27; Tino Best 2-24)
