Bajans do Carib Beer cricket double

BRIDGETOWN: With captain Courtney Browne labelling his side the “best in the Caribbean”, Cup champions Barbados created history yesterday after crushing Jamaica by seven wickets in the final of the Carib Beer International Challenge to become the first to capture both titles in a West Indies first-class cricket season.

Set just 35 for victory following another sensational batting collapse by Jamaica, Browne’s ruthless combination of experience and youth triumphed in 7.1 overs - 20 minutes after lunch on the fourth and final day at Kensington Oval. Ryan Hinds was unbeaten on 21 as the winning runs came from three leg-byes to fine-leg with occasional bowler Brenton Parchment in operation. Ecstatic spectators, one displaying a huge Barbados flag of ultra marine and gold with the broken trident, soon assembled in front of the Sir Garfield Sobers Pavilion for the presentation ceremony as Kurt Wilkinson, the 21-year-old Barbados batsman was named Man-of-the-Match for his second first-class century (125) in the Barbados first innings total of 369.

Starting the day on 166 for three in their second innings, still needing 19 more runs to avoid an innings defeat, Jamaica scored freely in the first 25 minutes before losing their last seven wickets for 32 runs in 18 overs as they were fired out by a four-pronged pace attack for 219. Leon Garrick, who resumed on 56, made 75 to follow his opening partner Parchment’s topscore of 82 on Saturday. West Indies fast bowler Vasbert Drakes was the top wicket-taker with three for 44. From their double success, which added to the capture of the regional limited overs championship in Jamaica last September, Barbados also set a couple other records. “It’s a great feeling. It’s a very, very good feeling. I never even realised how much hard work we had put in over the last few months to get this far,” said Browne, who has been the Barbados captain in all of their last three championship successes.

Browne, a former West Indies player, said Barbados had shown that experience and youth are vital ingredients for success. In relation to winning the last three regional championships and then sustaining such an excellent record, Browne said: “We can take the pressure. We like the pressure. We play well under pressure and we know all about it. When we look at the other teams, they are not as strong as Barbados and they really can’t put pressure on us because we will soak up that pressure and then return it to them. So we are not worried about any team. We are the best in the Caribbean without doubt. We have proven it now.” Jamaica captain Robert Samuels was gracious in defeat, saying Barbados displayed more professionalism throughout. The collapse started when all-rounder David Bernard, who has been included in the West Indies 14-man squad for the first time for the opening Test against Australia in Georgetown on Thursday, fell to West Indies left-arm pacer Pedro Collins.