PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Ashley Nurse wrecked the Leeward Islands with a six wicket haul that set the stage for Barbados to march into the semi-finals of the NAGICO Super50 tournament at the Queen’s Park oval here yesterday.
The Bajans clinched a four-wicket victory over the unfancied Leeward Islands outfit but not before surviving a persistent bowling counter attack that threatened to derail their run chase.
Kraigg Brathwaite cracked an unbeaten 29 and batted through the innings to lead Barbados through some rocky phases and then safety at 104 for six after Nurse’s assault which saw the Leewards crashing to 103 all out.
Openers Kieran Powell top scored with 34 and Montcin Hodge 14, both scoring slowly, to give the Leewards an encouraging 46-run stand.
But once Dwayne Smith got the breakthrough by having Hodge caught, a batting slide begun which remained unchecked.
Powell soon followed trapped lbw to Nurse while Devon Thomas offered some resistance before he was trapped lbw to Sulieman Benn for 17.
The only other batman to cross into double figures was Jahmar Hamilton who was lbw to Nurse for 10.
Nurse finished with a haul of six for 29 from 10 overs including two maiden overs while Benn picked up two for 15.