Campbell (69) defies Guyana spinners

BRIDGETOWN: Captain Sherwin Campbell hit a gritty 69 yesterday but Barbados lost their way in the second  session as Guyana’s spinners lifted their team into good position on the third day of the fifth-round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match at Kensington Oval. Bottom-of-the-table Barbados slumped from 143 for two in its second innings to a precarious 163 for five at tea. The home team, who conceded a first innings lead of 25 on day two, lead by 138 runs.

Off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine claimed two for 34 while leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo grabbed two for 54. Despite the loss of Martin Nurse (18) and Dale Richards (32), the Barbadians were coasting along in the face of defensive tactics by the Guyanese spinners. But Kurt Wilkinson lofted a catch to mid-on off Deonarine to spark a collapse as three wickets fell for 20 runs. Campbell, who spent 214 balls and four and a half hours at the crease, slashed at a wide ball from Nagamootoo and provided a simple catch for backward point. The diminutive right-hander hit six fours in his highest score of the season. Dwayne Smith fell in typical fashion just before the break. The attacking right-hander resisted for 16 balls before slapping Nagamotoo straight to extra cover. Patrick Browne was undefeated on seven at the interval.