Jacobs, Sanford put skids on B’dos

BRIDGETOWN: The Leeward Islands, on the back of an unbeaten 101 by Ridley Jacobs and a five-wicket haul from Adam Sanford, moved into a match-winning position against struggling Barbados yesterday on the third day of their fourth-round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match at Kensington Oval. Veteran Jacobs and all-rounder Omari Banks, who was 75 not out, set up a commanding Leeward Islands total of 479 for six declared and a hearty first innings lead of 187.

The home team was staring down their third defeat in succession as they plunged to 140 for six by the close. Pacer Sanford, following a six-wicket haul in the first innings, ripped apart the Barbados second innings with five for 36. Dwayne Smith sizzled in a counter-attacking 63 off 57 balls but fell just before the end. Sanford started the wreckage in the first over when Barbados captain Sherwin Campbell was dismissed hit wicket in freakish circumstances. The diminutive right-hander lost control when playing a forcing back foot stroke and the bat flipped over his shoulder and landed on his stumps.

Barbados were soon 37 for three as Sanford bowled Martin Nurse off the inside edge and found Kenroy Williams’ edge for a second slip catch. Opener Dale Richards and Smith revived the innings in a fourth wicket stand of 52.  Richards contributed a confident 45 before Carl Simon bowled him off the thigh pad. The right-hander hit eight boundaries. Smith shared another half century stand with wicket-keeper Patrick Browne as the pair seemed set to carry Barbados’ hopes into today. Smith, dropped at mid-on off Omari Banks when 20,  slapped seven fours and two sixes before he lofted Sanford straight to mid-off.  Browne followed one run later in the final over of the day, playing across the line to be leg before.

Earlier, Jacobs and Banks dominated the Barbados attack as the visitors rebounded from the disappointment of losing overnight batsman Stuart Williams five runs short of a century.  Williams, resuming on 87, added two more boundaries before he fell to a Corey Collymore outswinger in the day’s second over. When Jason Bennett struck with the second new ball to claim Wilden Cornwall for 13, the home team sensed a way back at 301 for six. Cornwall deflected a catch to second slip.  But Jacobs and his fellow West Indies representative Banks ensured Leeward Islands supremacy.   The 37-year-old Jacobs cracked 11 fours and a six as the visitors, overnight 273 for four, declared on the stroke of tea.  Banks spanked seven fours off 145 deliveries. The pair put on an unbroken 178 for the seventh wicket in a  majestic display that spanned three hours, 20 minutes either side of lunch. Jacobs brought up his sixth regional First-Class Century  off his 178th delivery in 10 minutes shy of four hours.