Wilkinson, Reifer stonewall Jamaicans

BRIDGETOWN: Kurt Wilkinson and Floyd Reifer both stroked confident, unbeaten half centuries as Barbados set the foundation for a formidable first-innings total on yesterday’s opening day of the Carib Beer International Challenge cricket final against Jamaica.

The pair added a chanceless, unbroken 130 for the fourth wicket as the home team closed at 228 for three after being sent in to bat. Right-hander Wilkinson was the more fluent in his unbeaten 74, his highest score of the season. The 21-year-old had been dropped after scoring just 74 runs in five matches earlier in the season. But he justified his recall for this crucial encounter, hitting 10 boundaries off 166 balls in 194 minutes.

The more experienced Reifer played with calm assurance in an undefeated 59. The 30-year-old left-hander counted four fours and a six off 182 deliveries in 277 minutes. Off spinner Gareth Breese was the most successful Jamaican bowler with two for 61 off a marathon 31 overs. Jamaica started encouragingly after captain Robert Samuels won the toss on a true pitch. Jerome Taylor, the 18-year-old pacer, struck in the sixth over, removing Sherwin Campbell for 11. Campbell miscued a hook off the top edge to be caught at fine leg by Jermaine Lawson. Philo Wallace and Ryan Hinds consolidated the early loss and put on 45 for the second wicket before Breese struck for the first time just before lunch.

Wallace, Barbados’ century-making star of the semi-final win over Trinidad and Tobago, looked in typically forthright mood in scoring 35 off 52 deliveries. The powerful right-hander lashed four fours and two sixes before he top-edged a sweep to deep backward square leg. Left-hander Hinds compiled a workmanlike 38 before perishing when well set once again. He struck three boundaries off 123 balls. Breese accounted for him but was indebted to David Bernard, who grasped an outstanding catch diving away to his left at mid-off. But, from 98 for three, Jamaica were stonewalled for the remainder of the day by Wilkinson and Reifer. West Indies pacer Jermaine Lawson was restricted to just eight overs in the day as he spent some time off the field with an upset stomach. The four-day match continues today.