Collymore grabs five in Bajan win

"Man-of-the-Match" Collymore took five for 27 off ten overs as the Leewards were restricted to 212 for nine in pursuit of 230 at the Police ground, Weymouth.

Captain Sylvester Joseph topscored with 73 off 99 balls including six fours and two sixes after he and Tonito Willett (25) revived the innings from 27 for four with a fifth wicket partnership of 88 in 22.5 overs. Once they were parted, the innings again went into decline and at 139 for eight in the 38th over, the end seemed near before all-rounder Omari Banks and pacer Gavin Tonge put on 47 to keep the match alive.

Collymore returned to have Tonge caught just inside the long-off boundary in the 46th over. Banks scored 55 not out off 49 balls, hitting five fours and a six.

After they were put in, Barbados fell for 229 in 48.5 overs. Dwayne Smith produced his first significant score of the championship, hitting the topscore of 75 off 65 balls with eight fours and four sixes after he was dropped on six at slip by Runako Morton off Tonge.

The win was Barbados’ third on the trot after losing to Guyana, putting them second in the standings on 12 points behind Guyana (15). The Leewards are third on 11.

The Leewards plunged to 27 for four as Colly-more again bowled impressively. He had Austin Richards caught at the wicket by Courtney Browne for ten in the fourth over of the innings and soon removed Morton (two) leg before wicket as he pulled two overs later.

Ian Bradshaw chipped in with the scalp of Junie Mitchum for three to another catch at the wicket off the last delivery of the seventh over and two balls later, Wilden Corn-wall (ten) drove Colly-more into the hands of short mid-on.

Joseph and Willett both played positively. Joseph took the attack to Ryan Hinds, hitting the left-arm spinner overhead for six and then striking the next ball again over the top for four in the 19th over.

He also lifted Sulieman Benn for a towering six over long-on.