CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC – Batting continued to be a problem for three of the sides preparing for the Caribbean Twenty20, when the Barbados T20 Festival opened on Tuesday.
Reigning Caribbean champions Trinidad & Tobago prevailed over an All Stars XI by 27 runs in the low-scoring opening match of the competition at the Three Ws Oval.
Arch-rivals Barbados fared little better, limping to a three-wicket victory over hosts Combined Campuses & College in the second match.
West Indies opener Adrian Barath stroked 41 from 38 balls, as T&T, slightly depleted by the absence of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, reached a modest 121 for six from their allocation of 20 overs.
They had to depend on all-rounder Kevon Cooper to give them a late boost with a typically enterprising 25 not out. No other batsman reached 20.
T&T’s bowling again proved too strong for opposition with spinners Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine grabbing two cheap wickets apiece, along with fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.
The visitors only met resistance from former West Indies Under-19 captain Shamar Brooks, a product of the West Indies High Performance Centre, whose 34 was the top score for the All Stars in their response of 94 all out in 19.2 overs.
In the other match, a typically enterprising 53 from all-rounder Dwayne Smith spurred the Barbadians to a tense victory.
Smith struck three fours and four sixes from 30 balls, as Barbados successfully chased 120 for victory with 15 deliveries remaining. No other Barbadian batsman reached 20.
A knock of 33 from Jamaican Chadwick Walton and 26 from Barbadian all-rounder Ryan Wiggins anchored the CCC to 119 for seven from 20 overs.
Spinners Ryan Hinds and Ashley Nurse collected two scalps apiece.
