Jamaica beats Bajans in thriller
Saturday, October 23 2004
Day Seven
The lowscoring trend of the competition continued on day seven, with Jamaica defending 166 against the mighty Bajans.
Jamaica vs. Barbados
Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground, Georgetown, Guyana
Toss: Barbados
In the unusual conditions of Uitvlugt, Courtney Browne won the toss and decided to bowl first against the Jamaicans. Vindication took 35 runs to come, but first popped up via Ryan Hinds, who had the explosive Chris Gayle caught behind for a tame 8.
Brenton Parchment (16) and top young prospect Xavier Marshall (26) got starts but did not carry on and the score was 88/3. This was soon to be 106/6 following the wickets of Wavell Hinds (1), Carlton Baugh Jr. (3) and captain Gareth Breese (7). Dave Bernard Jr. (6) also failed to contribute significantly and Evon McInnis was left untouched on 13 when Bradshaw finished off the tail.
Only Marlon Samuels made any real impact with the bat for Jamaica, compiling a solid 54 before being eighth out in the 47th over. Champions Trophy hero, Ian Bradshaw finished with 4/34, whilst the spinners Hinds and Benn each took 2 wickets. Also among the wickets was Antonio Mayers (5-0-36-2), whilst West Indies bowlers Corey Collymore (5-1-9-0) and Ryan Hurley (10-1-15-0) were extremely tight without reward.
Searching for the low total, Barbados scored 30 runs within 4 overs when discarded opener Sherwin Campbell (7) was first out. Evon McInnis was the successful bowler and he had the struggling Dwayne Smith (1) caught-and-bowled before the over's end. From 34/2, the score was doubled by Martin Nurse (45) in collaboration with Ryan Hinds (11). The former was Gayle's first victim in the 12th over and it was 68/3. Hinds, dropped a few overs earlier, was LBW to Gayle for 11 and Jamaica sensed a return to competition at 79/4.
Mr. Consistency for Barbados over the years, Floyd Reifer was struggling with an injured ankle when he was caught by Gayle off Samuels without scoring. Then 82/5 later became 107/6 when Mayers was run out for 9. All the while Courtney Browne stayed at the crease and prayed for someone to stay around with him. No such thing. A senseless slog by Hurley did not pay off and he was bowled by Breese for 1.
Barbados still needed 51 runs for victory but had only 3 wickets in hand and suddenly the situation took a familiar shine as Ian Bradshaw joined Browne in the middle. The two, well baptized in crisis batting for the West Indies senior team, set off toward the target. Some 24 runs followed and the Bajan supporters gained in confidence. Just then Browne's knock of 37 was ended by Nikita Miller, the right-hander caught in the covers off the left-arm spinner.
Still Bradshaw remained and optimism was still there. However, a mix-up between the batsmen ended such thoughts, Bradshaw run out for 15. With 9 runs still needed and plenty of overs remaining, Corey Collymore defended the last ball of his entry over. It was up to Sulieman Benn it seemed. He failed to score in the next over (by Breese) though and would end not out on 10.
Abused at the start of the innings, Dwight Washington was called upon again to finish things off. To the surprise of few, Washington's return was Collymore's departure, caught by Gayle at slip for a duck.
Barbados all out for 158 chasing 165 and Jamaica doing what they failed to do the previous day against Trinidad and Tobago - finish off the tail. Chris Gayle was the measure of economy and allowed just 18 runs from his 10 overs whilst snaring a couple of wickets. Evon McInnis (2/30) was also among the successful and Samuels (10-1-29-1), Breese (8-0-28-1) and Miller (10-1-24-1) chipped in nicely of the spin contingent.
Jamaica innings 165 all out (49.5 overs)
Marlon Samuels 54, Xavier Marshall 26
Ian Bradshaw 4/34 (9.5), Sulieman Benn 2/29 (10), Ryan Hinds 2/34 (10), Antonio Mayers 2/36 (5)
Barbados innings 158 all out (45.5 overs)
Martin Nurse 45, Courtney Browne 37
Chris Gayle 2/18 (10), Evon McInnis 2/30 (4)
Result: Jamaica won by 7 runs
Points: Jam 4, Bar 0
Man of the Match: Marlon Samuels
Posted by Liam