IT WAS EASIER than extinguishing any fire for the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) cricket team at Kensington Oval yesterday.
They came with their sirens blazing for the Sagicor General Shield cricket final and swiftly completed the job by eight wickets at 2:46 p.m., leaving their opponents Psychiatric Hospital in the rubble.
Psychiatric Hospital, who won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat, perished for a meagre 80 runs in 26 overs to the swing and pace of experienced fast bowler Brian Shepherd, who took four for 34 to gain the Man-Of-The-Match award.
The BFS, watched by Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall, then raced to 81 for two in 14.4 overs to win their first Shield title. It was only their second ever cricket title after winning the Second Division crown in 1999.
Opener Athelbert Brathwaite (43 not out) and the experienced Lonsdale Blake (22 not out) put on the finishing touches in an unbroken 56-run third-wicket partnership.
“I feel very good. The chief [Marshall] said he wanted a trophy before he goes and I said I would present him with a trophy and I presented it today,” said BFS’ 51-year-old captain Patrick Smith.
He was full of praise for the bowling as both Jared Bernadin and Brathwaite took two wickets for 11 runs.
“The bowling was great. I knew Shepherd with his experience and a little grass on the pitch would do well,” Smith said.
Earlier, Psychiatric Hospital seemed to be in a mad rush to score runs and surrendered their wickets tamely with some ill-advised shots.
Shepherd started Psychiatric Hospital’s woes with the third delivery of the day when he induced captain Roger Burrowes to edge to second slip where Blake pouched the catch.
It was deja-vu in Shepherd’s next over when No. 3 batsman Jamar Willoughby, after edging and cover-driving the bowler for consecutive fours, also edged to Blake.
Shepherd’s new ball partner Jared Bernadin then bowled the other opener Selvin Greenidge for a 14-ball “duck” before Shepherd took his third wicket, Reco Headley leg before wicket for 11.
After Akeem Caddle was caught by wicket-keeper Ron Phillips off Bernadin without scoring, Shepherd took the prized wicket of former Maple batsman Gregory Gaskin for three, when he drove to cover point.
Bernadin was rested after his opening burst of 4-1-7-2 and his replacement, Brathwaite, removed Dwayne Wilson and Kareem Knight with consecutive balls in his second over.
Wilson was well caught at mid-on by Dale Brathwaite for four while Knight was taken by Blake at point after he attempted a big heave off his first ball.
It was then 38 for eight but Alfred Alleyne, batting at No. 9, and tailenders David Leacock and Anthony Massiah added 42 runs for the last two wickets. Alleyne was left unbeaten for the top score of 21 off 48 balls.
Leacock’s contribution was eight and last man Massiah made six as he sensibly batted for 35 balls while helping Alleyne to add 24 for the last wicket.
In the BFS’ reply, opener Jason Codrington was run out in the first over for one at the non-striker’s end, backing up too far.
Just before the lunch break, Shawn Sargeant, hitting across the off spin of Willoughby, was leg before wicket for 10 with the total on 25 for two.
On resumption, Athelbert Brathwaite was dropped at slip when he was on 17 but thereafter he and Blake carried BFS to victory, capitalising on some loose offerings served up by Headley.
BFS coach Richard Clarke said the victory was overwhelming after the long break, as they had to wait since July last year to play in the final following their semi-final victory over defending champions Combermere.
