BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Ashley Nurse smashed an unbeaten half-century to rescue Barbados Pride but Trinidad and Tobago Red Force still held the advantage at the close on day two of their seventh round match in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.
Replying to Red Force’s first innings of 358 all out, Pride ended on 238 for seven, thanks to Nurse’s belligerent 71 not out off 80 deliveries.
More importantly, he was involved in a crucial unbroken 108-run, eighth wicket stand with wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott who was unbeaten on a patient 34.
The stand was key in rescuing the innings after it stood in danger of collapse at 130 for eight, just after tea at Kensington Oval, following a destructive spell by leg-spinner Yannic Cariah who finished with four for 43.
This was despite a composed 56 from left-handed opener Shayne Moseley and 45 from Aaron Jones, which carried the hosts to a comfortable position of 119 for one at one stage after lunch.
Red Force, who started the day on 316 for eight, were bowled out for 358, about 35 minutes into the session, with Jamaican fast bowler Marquino Mindley ending with five for 78.
The visitors then struck early when Rashidi Boucher was lbw to left-arm seamer Daniel St Clair for 12 with the score on 24, in the seventh over of the innings. However, Moseley and Jones stabilised the innings in a 95-run, second wicket stand which took Pride to lunch without further loss at 62 for one.
Moseley faced 149 balls in just over three hours at the crease and counted seven fours while Jones struck six fours in a 110-ball knock.
However, Cariah struck when he had Jones caught and bowled and in the same over, had captain Jonathan Carter, lbw for four, as Pride astonishingly lost six wickets for 11 runs in quick time.
However, Nurse resisted, taking the attack to Red Force as he lashed three fours and five sixes, to notch his third first class half-century.
Walcott proved the perfect foil in an innings that has so far lasted 106 balls in exactly two hours, and included two fours.
Ex-Test seamer Ravi Rampaul supported Cariah with two for 26.
Pride still trail by 120 runs heading into today’s third day.
