COUVA, Trinidad, CMC – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s 16th first class hundred underlined a strong Barbados Pride batting effort on the opening day of their penultimate round game against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force here yesterday.
Sent in at the National Cricket Centre, Pride batted the entire day to reach 220 for two at the close, with the West Indies opener notching an unbeaten 105 – his second century in his last four outings in the Regional four-day championship this season.
His Windies teammate Shai Hope extended his good form with 52 while left-handed opener Omar Phillips weighed in with 49.
Brathwaite’s knock has been the cornerstone of Pride’s innings, and has so far lasted a shade under 5-3/4 hours, required 269 balls, and included nine fours and a six.
In the process, he became the third Pride batsman to pass the 500-run mark this season, joining Roston Chase and Shamarh Brooks.
The 23-year-old Brathwaite anchored two strong partnerships, posting 79 for the first wicket with Phillips and a further 122 for the second wicket with Hope.
Pride made a cautious start to the morning session with Brathwaite and Phillips getting through the first hour slowly but safely, gathering only 34 runs from the first 15 overs.
Phillips blossomed nicely, however, and was on the verge of his 14th first class half-century when he was caught at square leg by Jon-Russ Jagessar off leg-spinner Imran Khan, in the final over before lunch.
He faced 91 balls in 111 minutes at the crease, and struck seven fours and a six.
On 82 for one then with Brathwaite unbeaten on 30, Pride dominated the post-lunch session without losing a wicket while adding a further 64 runs.
Brathwaite managed only 32 runs during the session to be unbeaten on 62 at tea but raised three figures in the final session off 237 balls and 322 minutes.
The right-handed Hope, unbeaten on 34 at the tea break, raised his fifth first class half-century in the final session but was out shortly afterward, caught at cover by Rayad Emrit off leg-spinner Yannic Cariah.
He struck five fours off 155 balls in just over 3-1/4 hours.
