BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Kirk Edwards gained a timely boost of form and confidence with his fifth first-class hundred to put Barbados in charge early against Guyana in the Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday here.
The Barbados captain was undefeated on 110 to lead his side to 267 for four in their first innings before rain then bad light brought the close 17 overs early on the opening day of their second round match at Kensington Oval.
Edwards was fortunate on 95, when long-on fielder Assad Fudadin muffed a skier off a delivery from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and has so far struck 12 fours and two sixes from 177 balls in 279 minutes at the crease.
He reached his milestone from 154 balls with a deuce, when he drove Christopher Barnwell firmly straight and mid-on fielder Tagenarine Chanderpaul moving to his left failed to make a diving stop.
Edwards, batting with a severe open stance following a year of lost form and confidence, is looking to stake a claim for a place in the West Indies batting order for the upcoming International home series against Zimbabwe.
He added 164 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Jonathan Carter, when Barbados stumbled to 73 for three after they were greeted by a typically hard, true pitch.
Carter supported with 85 that included 13 fours and one six from 154 balls in 174 minutes before he was caught behind in the only over from part-time off-spinner Leon Johnson essaying a cut.
He reached his 50 from 94 balls, when he punched a delivery from left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyana captain, through square cover for his eighth four and steadied the ship for Barbados.
Keon Joseph gave Guyana an early breakthrough, removing Kraigg Brathwaite for one inside the first half-hour, when the Barbados opener became the first of three players to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Derwin Christian.
Ronsford Beaton set the Barbadians back, when Rashidi Boucher, who made 28, edged to Christian, leaving the home team 33 for two.
Kyle Hope joined Edwards and struck the ball crisply before he was caught at forward short leg off Permaul for 16 from a bat-pad catch, as Barbados reached 97 for three at lunch.
Rain delayed the start after the interval, but Edwards and Carter resumed, batting with aplomb to take the Barbadians to 189 for three at tea.
A second stoppage for rain after tea lasted 45 minutes before Edwards and Carter returned to carry on merrily before Permaul brought Johnson into the attack and he made a timely intervention just when it appeared the two Barbadian batsmen were going to unleash.
The hosts made one change to their side, replacing Kevin Stoute with Javon Searles, but the Guyanese are playing an unchanged line-up.
Guyana are third in the standings with six points, after taking first innings points over Leeward Islands in their drawn first round match, and Barbados are tied at the bottom with Combined Campuses & Colleges with no points following a 63-run loss in their opening match against Jamaica.
