Pride capture Regional Super50 crown

The Pride, who were runners-up in the 2016 final at the Queen’s Park Oval, won the toss and decided to bat first. And, with Hope’s invaluable 101 (on the heels of his 125 against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Thursday’s semi-final), coupled with a blistering 69 from captain Jason Holder, amassed 271 runs for nine wickets off their allotted 50 overs.

The Scorpions relied heavily on the powerful hitting of Rovman Powell, who made a stroke-filled 65, but they were bowled out for 212 with 5.3 overs remaining.

Pride openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kevin Stoute put on 59 in 12.3 overs before Braithwaite was bowled by leg-spinner Damion Jacobs for 22. Stoute followed shortly afterwards for 44 while Jonathan Carter (eight), Roston Chase (seven) and Shane Dowrich (six) followed to leave the Pride in some strife at 138/5 in the 35th over.

Hope and Holder consolidated the innings but it was not until the start of the 44th over, when the Pride were on 179/5, that the tempo changed. Both West Indies players indulged in a feast of big-hitting, with a slew of fours and sixes, as they put on 86 in eight overs before Holder (47 deliveries, five fours and four sixes) was caught by Jermaine Blackwood at long-on attempting a big hit off Powell’s medium pace.

Hope was later run out by Powell, attempting a quick single (98 balls, five fours and five sixes) but the tail struggled to make any headway in the last two overs.

Former West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach accounted for Steven Taylor (nine) and Blackwood (seven) while Chadwick Walton (26) was held at long-off by Kraigg Braithwaite with the score on 69.

John Campbell (two) and Andre McCarthy (30) were removed in quick succession, while Damani Sewell (six) and Jacobs (28) offered little resistance, as the Pride sensed a huge victory in the day-night contest.

But Powell, in tandem with Jerome Taylor (23) blunted the Pride’s bowling with an eighth-wicket stand of 59 before Taylor was held at deep midwicket by Carter off Holder.

Powell took measures into his own hands, but Miller was trapped in front by Holder, before Carlos Brathwaite took the final wicket, of Powell (59 deliveries, five fours and four sixes), who was held by a gleeful Holder at long-off.

During the prize-giving ceremony, Hope, who was the obvious Man of the Match, was named as the Wicketkeeper and the All-Rounder of the Tournament (17 catches, four stumpings and 482 runs), while Powell was adjudged the Best Fielder with seven catches. Hurricanes captain Kieran Powell was the Batsman of the Tournament (513 runs) while Pride off-spinner Ashley Nurse was the Bowler of the Tournament (26 wickets).

Scores: PRIDE 271 for nine off 50 overs (Shai Hope 101, Jason Holder 69, Kevin Stoute 41; Rovman Powell 2-27, Jason Campbell 2-35) vs SCORPIONS 212 all out off 44.3 overs (Rovman Powell 65, Andre McCarthy 30, Damion Jacobs 28; Sulieman Benn 3-33, Jason Holder 2-28, Carlos Brathwaite 2-43, Kemar Roach 2-54). Barbados Pride won by 59 runs