Antigua bowl over champs Barbados

ST JOHN’S, Antigua:  Antigua and Barbuda caused a major upset, when they defeated champions Barbados by three wickets in their Zone B regional Red Stripe Bowl cricket match at the Antigua Recreation Grounds yesterday. Set a modest 185 to win, the home side reached 186 for seven off 48 overs and four balls after Barbados were dismissed for 184 in 48 overs and four balls. Antigua and Barbuda’s win was the first against one of the traditional teams in their third year in the competition. Captain Sylvester Joseph hit a priceless 48 and Test player, Ridley Jacobs contributed an important 30 not out, to set the victory for the Antiguans, after they were struggling at 70 for five. Joseph and Jacobs then put on 67 for the sixth wicket, to turn around the side’s fortunes and with off-spinning all-rounder Anthony Lake compiling a crucial 28 they gave about 2,000 fans something to shout about. Joseph faced 103 balls and struck two sixes and three fours, while Jacobs’ 67-ball innings contained a four and a six. Lake, who also performed well with the ball by taking two for 31 from ten overs, was named Man-of-the-Match, while Ian Tittle chipped in with 22 in a stand of 41 with Joseph for the fifth wicket, which started the recovery.
 
After Joseph was dismissed at 137 for six, Lake and Jacobs took the Antiguans to within five short of their target before the former was caught behind the wicket. Left-arm seamer Pedro Collins grabbed three for 39, including the two openers, to leave Antigua floundering at 12 for two from nine overs and Bradshaw, another left-armer, took two for 42 off eight overs and four balls. In the Barbados innings, left-handed batsman Ryan Hinds hit 42 and captain Courtney Browne 32, as they added 36 for the fifth wicket to help their side recover from 63 for four wickets. Bradshaw contributed a useful 25, but it proved to be insufficient. Big pacer Curtis Roberts, who made the initial breakthrough, took two for 19, off-spinner Earl Waldron two for 29 and seamer Kerry Jeremy two for 43. Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana share the lead in their group with eight points each under the new system which awards four points for a win. After Monday’s rest day, the University of the West Indies take on West Indies Under 19 on Tuesday.