From Clifton Ross in Barbados
Barbados Pride, batting first on the opening day of the seventh round 2015-16 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four Day match against Guyana Jaguars at the Kensington Oval Ground, Barbados, were dismissed for 274.
The undefeated, defending champions Guyana Jaguars used a mixture of pace and spin to dismiss the strong Barbadian batting line up for a a reasonable score.
Pacers Keon Joseph (3-49) and Barbados-born Raymon Reifer (2-49), utilizing the conditions tailor-made for seam, while, as per norm, spin twins Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul continued their sublime bowling form this season snaring 2-72 and 2-43, respectively as the home team folded in 88.3 overs.
Thirty-year old all-rounder Kevin Stoute was left unbeaten on 56, his eighth First-Class 50-plus score while the in-form Shamarh Brooks scored 56 also, batting for 168 minutes, with seven fours and one six.
Barbados skipper Kraigg Brathwaite stroked a fluent 40 from 51 balls with s even fours and Johnathan Carter, who has played 13 One Day Internationals (ODI) for the West Indies, chipped in with an aggressive 38.
After losing the toss, the Guyanese bowlers were penetrative from the get go, with the right-arm speedster Joseph dismissing out-of-form opener Kyle Corbin for nought, playing on.
With the score 0-1, the West Indies Test openers Shai Hope (27) and Brathwaite joined forces. Brathwaite registered the first two boundaries for the Pride when he straight-drove Ronsford Beaton for consecutive fours before cracking back-to-back boundaries off Joseph.
After 11 overs Barbados Pride were 35 for one and Brathaite had scored 34 of those runs.
Hope took 31 balls to get off the mark and played an uncomfortable hook off Beaton to get his first boundary as Barbados motored along decently with the pair of Test batsmen steadying the innings after the early setback.
Playing in familiar conditions, Reifer maintained a disciplined line and length during his spells and was rewarded when the West Indies Test Vice-Captain Brathwaite, uncharacteristically flashed at a wide delivery outside the off-stump and was caught by glove-man Anthony Bramble, ending his 72-minute stay at the crease.
The team’s 50 came up in the 17th over with a sweet cover drive from Hope who began to up his scoring while Brooks lent ideal support as they added 32 runs, taking Barbados to 78-2 at lunch after 25 overs.
Permaul struck the first ball after the lunch break, dismissing the right-handed Hope to leave Barbados 78-3.
The out-of-favor West Indies Test spinner continued from the Joel Garner End but was taken struck for the first six by Brooks who danced down the track, smashing him back over his head. The team’s 100 came up in the 33rd over of the day but just after adding a solid 55 with Brooks, Barbados’ leading-run scorer Rolston Chase (17) was caught square of the wicket by Assad Fudadin to give Permaul his second wicket.
Brooks continued to play within himself and reached 50 off 107 balls with seven fours and one six. Bishoo, though, struck in his third over to remove another Test player in wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich who played a careless stroke and was easily caught by Captain Leon Johnson at first slip for five.
Barbados at tea, were 152 for 5 with Brooks on 56 and Johnathan Carter yet to come off the mark.
When play resumed, Bishoo bamboozled Brooks with a spinning delivery which disturbed the stumps of the right-hander.
Kevin Stoute announced himself with a booming cover drive off his second ball and Barbados brought up their 200 in the 66th over with Carter and Stoute showing that they weren’t afraid to play their shots.
The pair added 50 runs for the seventh-wicket from just 78 balls.
Joseph’s reintroduction into the attack paid off dismissed Carter but Stoute carried his bat and reached well-played 50 off 83 balls.
Justin Greaves battled for his 19 before he was caught off Reifer who ran out Miguel Cummins for 02 on the stroke of stumps.
Today’s play will commence at 10:00hrs.
Scoreboard
Barbados 1st innings
K Brathwaite c wk Bramble b Reifer 40
K Corbin b Joseph 00
S Hope b Permaul 27
S Brooks b Bishoo 56
R Chase c Fudadin b Permaul 17
S Dowrich c Johnson b Bishoo 05
J Carter c wk Bramble b Joseph 38
K Stoute not out 56
J Greaves c wk Bramble b Reifer 19
M Cummins run out (Reifer) 02
Extras: (nb-10, wides-1)
Total: (10 wickets) 274
FOW: 1-0, 2-46, 3-78, 4-133, 5-151, 6-154, 7-219, 8-266, 9-267, 10-274
Bowling: Beaton 15-2-56-0, Joseph16-4-49-3, Bishoo 17-0-72-2, Reifer
14.3-5-49-2, Permaul 24-7-43-2, Fudadin2-0-3-0.
