Windwards routed for 55

KINGSTOWN: Title-holders Barbados stayed on a clear victory path yesterday despite defiant second innings batting by the Windward Islands on the second day of their sixth round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. The visitors claimed most of the honours in the final session to leave the Windward Islands, who were asked to follow 255 behind, on 201 for four —  still 54 runs in arrears —  with Junior Murray (25) and Darren Sammy (22) the not out batsmen. 

Earlier in the day, the Windwards, responding to the Barbados first innings score of 310 had crashed to a fragile 55 all out, equalling their second lowest total ever in regional First Class cricket. The Windwards had appeared to be climbing back into the match in the afternoon when their openers, Devon Smith (99) and Craig Emmanuel (31) had posted a century stand for the first wicket in their second innings. They had batted the entire post lunch session to go to tea at 110 without loss, with Smith on 72 and Emmanuel on 26.  Emmanuel had some good fortune, when he was put down at mid-wicket by Pedro Collins diving to his right off leg-spinner Ryan Layne in the last over of the session.  However it all started to go wrong in the last hour as the Windwards lost three wickets, including that of a well poised Smith. 

Smith, batted well and exhibited a wide array of shots on both sides of the wicket posting his fifty in 85 minutes off 53 balls.  Overall he had batted 196 minutes, faced 129 balls and struck 13 fours. It was the second time in three years that Smith was given out LBW for 99 at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. He suffered the same fate in 2002 against Guyana. Smith has so far been the pick of the Barbados bowlers with two for 48 off 19 overs with five maidens. 

Earlier, Barbados emphatically seized the initiative when they shot out their opponents in 22.4 overs just before lunch and enforced the follow on.  They were helped to their good position, by their seam attack that took advantage of overcast conditions and some poor batsmanship by the Windwards. Collins (3-19), Corey Collymore (3-20) and left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds (3-8) were the architects of the Windwards’ demise. The Windwards were just able to surpass their lowest of 54 made on the same ground against Guyana in 1998.  Their innings also equalled the second lowest ever of 55 against Jamaica at Alpart in 1999.