(WICB) Port of Spain, Trinidad – Barbados defeated Guyana by seven wickets to book a date with Trinidad & Tobago in the NAGICO Super50 final in Port of Spain.
Chasing 182 runs for victory, Barbados were off to a flying start thanks to Dwayne Smith. Together with Kraigg Brathwaite, the two put on 81 runs for the opening stand.
Smith was, of course, the more aggressive of the two. He struck 61 runs from just 37 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes in his 47 minute stay at the crease. When he went, things drastically slowed for Barbados.
Guyana took two more quick wickets to give themselves a fighting chance of getting back into the game. Barbados were soon rocking at 110/3. However, Kenroy Williams joined Kraigg Brathwaite at the crease and both batsmen patiently steadied their team.
Both batsmen put on an unbroken stand of 72 runs to take their team to the final. Brathwaite ended on 55 not out from 122 balls while Williams was unbeaten on 40.
Guyana recovered from an early slump to post a competitive score of 181 all out, but it still may not be enough to guarantee them a spot in the NAGICO Super50 final.
The Barbadian bowlers came out all guns blazing after Guyana won the toss and elected to bat. They were quickly reduced to 26/4. Narsingh Deonarine saved the day, hitting a patient 58 runs from 108 balls. His knock included seven fours.
Christopher Barnwell was a little more aggressive, striking 37 from 54 balls. He hit four fours and a six during his hour-long stay at the crease. Anthony Bramble also provided good company at the end, scoring 34.
Fidel Edwards was the pick of the bowlers for Barbados, finishing with 4-16 from 7.4 overs. He singled-handedly effected two run outs before ending the Guyana innings in the 49th over.
Barbados will need 182 runs to win from 50 overs at a Required Run Rate of 3.64 runs an over.
Guyana won the toss in the second semi-final against Barbados at the Queen’s Park Oval and elected to bat first.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been ruled out of the match as he failed to recover from the flu. Paul Wintz is also out with the flu. Strangely enough, Rashidi Boucher also caught the flu and will not play for Barbados.
Tino Best again misses out. Both teams are allowed an emergency fielder should they need them. Barbados are allowed Javon Searles while Guyana are allowed Dion Ferrier.
After an exciting round of group matches in the NAGICO Super50 tournament, we are down to the semi-final stage of the competition.
In the second semi-final, Barbados take on Guyana at the Queen’s Park Oval with both teams vying for a spot in the final against hosts Trinidad & Tobago, who defeated Jamaica in the first semi-final by seven wickets. Both teams won two of their three group matches.
While Guyana lost one to Jamaica, Barbados had their second Group B match against the Combined Campuses & Colleges at Shaw Park in Tobago rained out and abandoned.
Barbados topped Group B by gaining 10 points while Trinidad & Tobago placed second in the group with 10 points but lost the group head to head match.
Guyana on the other hand placed second as they failed to defeat Jamaica, who won all three group matches in Group A.
Points don’t matter at this stage though. Whoever wins go through. Whoever loses go home.
The match starts at 2pm T&T Time (1pm Jamaica Time). The toss is scheduled to be taken at 1:30pm T&T Time (12:30 Jamaica Time).
Tickets for the semi-final matches are at $TT40 while tickets for the final costs $TT50.
