Barbados rally after Sanford strikes

BRIDGETOWN: Leeward Islands fast bowler Adam Sanford claimed five wickets, but Dale Richards and Patrick Browne both hit half centuries to lift Barbados on the first day of their fourth round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match yesterday. Barbados, reduced to 87 for five in the morning session, recovered to post a satisfying 286 for nine. Richards topscored with an assured 79 and shared a restorative sixth wicket stand of 126 with wicket-keeper Browne, who hit a fluent 66.

Sanford, a former Test pacer, took five for 92 off 19 overs. Carl Simon supported with two for 54. Barbados began enterprisingly after winning the toss and deciding to bat in ideal batting conditions. Captain Sherwin Campbell and Martin Nurse added 47 for the  first wicket but Kerry Jeremy made the key breakthrough as the Leewards took the upper hand. Campbell stroked three fours in 21 before he was leg before to medium pacer Jeremy. Sanford soon started his intervention when he removed left-hander Nurse for 31. The 29-year-old then sliced through the middle order as Kurt Wilkinson (0), Kenroy Williams (1) and Dwayne Smith (4) fell cheaply. Wilkinson was adjudged caught down the leg side by wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs, who also snared Williams to a feathered edge. Smith was leg before playing across the line.

Richards and Browne rebuilt the innings either side of lunch in a classy partnership. Richards, who smacked 14 boundaries in his 145-ball knock, compiled his second 50 of the season. He looked set for a maiden first-class century when he square cut off-spinner Omari Banks low to backward point after three hours. Simon soon claimed Browne to reduce Barbados to 229 for seven. Browne top-edged a pull to square leg after stroking six fours off 149 deliveries. But the home team’s lower order kept the Leewards at bay until the close. Sulieman Benn, playing his first match of the season, made 26 before he edged Simon to first slip. Ryan Austin (13 not out) and Jason Bennett (16 not out) resisted the second new ball in an unbroken ninth wicket stand of  19.