Bajan cricket ‘babes’ draw first blood

Defending champions Barbados edged out host Trinidad and Tobago yesterday in the first match of the Inshan Ali Memorial Trophy Goodwill Series played at Gilbert Park, California. The Barbadians sneaked home with two balls remaining in the 30-overs-a-side match. They won by three wickets as they mustered 82 for seven off 29.4 overs. This was in reply to Trinidad and Tobago’s 81 for six wickets off 30 overs. The match was reduced from 40 overs-a-side because of the soggy outfield which caused the players to be sliding and falling while fielding. Because of the eagerness of both teams and their technical staff to play cricket that the umpires Inskip Watson and Harold Ramjattan got the match started.

TT’s skipper Yannick Cariah won the toss and elected to take first strike. But they were unable to capitalise on the wayward bowling from the Barbadian pacers Jodie Williams, Justin Greaves and Rascelle Gittens who together conceded 19 wides in the extras which amounted to 24 overall. “Mr Extras” was TT’s topscorer while Cariah made 10; Kerson Ottley 18 and Sachan Boodram 14 not out. Barbados captain Anthony Alleyne was the main wicket-taker with two for 23 from his allotted six overs. Barbados were off to a good start with Alleyne and Rolston Chase posting 24 for the first wicket. But Cariah forced the Bajan captain to offer a catch to Nicholas Alexis at backward square leg position.

Alleyne departed for six runs but set the tempo for his team to fight for victory which was finally achieved with two balls remaining. Chase topscored with a gutsy 23 which included one of the two boundaries for the both team’s innings. Vice-captain Dario Cummings slammed the other boundary in his 11 while Kraigg Braithwaite and Kyle Mayers chipped in with 11 and 10 respectively. Ottley was TT’s chief wicket-taker and finished with two for 11 from four overs. The second and final match of the limited-overs series will be played today at the National Cricket Centre Ground, Balmain and starts at 9.30 am. The three-day “Mini Test” starts tomorrow at the same venue. TT will be defending the Malcolm Marshall Memorial Trophy.