Odumbe takes six but Bajans on top

BRIDGETOWN: Despite Kenyan off-spinner Maurice Odumbe grabbing six wickets yesterday, Barbados claimed first-innings points and established a strong position on day two of their fifth-round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match. The home team, overnight 45 without loss, were bowled out for 221 to gain a first-innings lead of 50 runs. Floyd Reifer topscored with an even 50, while skipper Courtney Browne slammed 42. Former captain Odumbe restricted the Bajans with figures of six for 64 off 25 overs. Fellow off-spinner and current skipper, Steve Tikolo, claimed three for 45 off 16 overs.

The 2003 double crown champions then reduced the visitors to 27 for two in their second innings. Kenya enjoyed a satisfying, rain-shortened morning session as they removed both openers to reduce Barbados to 83 for two at lunch. Martin Nurse, resuming on 28, added just four before Kenya got the breakthrough from Odumbe. The left-hander lashed four fours and a six off 60 balls. After a rain break that delayed play for 40 minutes, Kenya again struck with the wicket of former Test opener Sherwin Campbell for 31 (four fours). The right-hander, struggling for form this season, edged to first slip off medium pacer Peter Ongondo. After lunch, left-handers Ryan Hinds and Reifer added 74 for the third wicket before Kenya hit back with three wickets in quick succession. Hinds stroked five boundaries in 35 before he drove a catch to mid-on off Odumbe. When Shawn Graham (1) was trapped leg before by Steve Tikolo and Reifer missed a drive to be bowled by Odumbe, the Barbadians were stuttering at 161 for five. Browne shored up the middle order with an enterprising innings that included three fours and two sixes off 73 balls. But the aggressive Barbadians lost their last five wickets for 31 runs to give Kenya hope.

Antonio Mayers was snapped up brilliantly at first slip by Ravindu Shah off Tikolo, before Browne, Ryan Nurse, Sulieman Benn and Tino Best all fell in a hail of adventurous strokes. Browne swatted Odumbe to deep midwicket, Nurse sliced Tikolo to mid-off, Benn gave a catch to cover and Best holed out on the boundary. Pedro Collins, a five-wicket hero on day one, again gave Barbados a fine start when Kenya started their second innings. The left-arm pacer trapped first innings topscorer Kennedy Obuya leg before for two. Best, belatedly introduced, ensured Barbados would end the day on top by castling Ravindu Shah (6) just before the close.