BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Left-hander Nicholas Kirton struck his second half-century in three innings as Barbados Pride rebounded from a shock defeat to CCC Marooners, to crush minnows Canada by nine wickets here yesterday.
Set a paltry 162 at Conaree Cricket Centre, Pride made light work of the target to get home with 20 overs to spare.
Opener Kjorn Ottley finally tasted form following low returns in his previous two innings, top-scoring with an upbeat unbeaten 70 off 84 deliveries while Kirton was yet again fluent in notching 56 not out off 48 balls.
Leniko Boucher got a start with 26 but once he departed in the 13th over, Ottley and Kirton took charge in an exactly 100-run, unbroken second wicket stand.
Choosing to bat first, Canada’s innings of 161 was underpinned by Arslan Khan who struck a defiant 76 off 128 deliveries, after new-ball speedsters Chemar Holder (3-32) and Roshon Primus (3-34) rocked the top order.
The 20-year-old Arslan arrived at the crease with his side in turmoil at six for two in the third over and watched as they slipped further to 29 for four in the 15th over.
The 20-year-old then put his head down in an innings containing five fours and a six, putting on 21 for the fifth wicket with Kanwarpal Tathgur (5), 38 for the sixth wicket with Harsh Thaker (18) and 34 for the seventh wicket with captain Kanwar Mann (8).
Arslan finally perished in the 43rd over, swinging Primus to short mid-wicket where Ashley Nurse took a low catch.
In reply, Ottley and Boucher put on 62 off 77 balls for the first wicket to ensure there were no hiccups in the run chase.
Left-hander Ottley counted 10 fours while Boucher hit five boundaries in a 48-ball knock before missing a straight one from left-arm spinner Shahid Ahmadzai and falling lbw in the 13th over.
Kirton, who featured last season for reigning champions CCC Marooners, joined Ottley and set about the Canadian attack with relish, pummelling five fours and two sixes, to race to his half-century off 46 balls by clearing the ropes at long off with seamer Nauman Zafar in the 30th over.
He finished the game with the very next delivery, dragging Zafar to the mid-wicket boundary.