Lara fails again in Bimshire

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies captain Brian Lara endured another failure in Barbados when he scored only one run for the Maple Club, which crashed to a heavy 116-run defeat against unbeaten Empire in the popular Barbados Fire and Commercial Cup knockout competition on Sunday.

The quarter-final match at the famous Bank Hall Ground, just outside the capital, attracted a large crowd but Lara failed to sparkle, giving all-rounder Alcindo Holder a tame return catch after facing just eight balls. Maple, who made an encouraging start in pursuit of a revised target of 230 runs in 45 overs, folded for a disappointing 114 in 36.4 overs with Holder capturing four wickets for 21 runs with his off breaks. The 20-year-old Holder, who was a member of the West Indies’ Under-19 team at last year’s Youth World Cup, had earlier topscored with a 60-ball knock of 55 in Empire’s original total of 250 in 49.5 overs.

Apart from Empire, defending champions Spartan and St Catherine also secured semi-finals berths with easy victories over YMPC and Pickwick. Spartan, with Barbados and former West Indies opener Philo Wallace hitting five fours and four sixes in the topscore of 64, made 173 in 38.1 overs and then routed YMPC for 98 in 30.5 overs with national Under-19 all-rounder Kevin Stoute claiming four wickets for 19 runs. St Catherine also dismissed Pickwick for 98 in 31.4 overs through a fine bowling display of six for 17 by last year’s Barbados Under-19 captain Kenroy Williams before replying with 99 for three, courtesy an unbeaten 51 from wicket-keeper Patrick Browne. The fourth quarterfinal was rained out at the halfway stage after Carlton, through knocks of 73 and 52 by Barbados batsmen Dale Richards and Kurt Wilkinson, had amassed 233 in 47.3 overs against Police.