BARBADOS PRIDE felt the full fury of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Kensington Oval yesterday and were devastated by an innings and four runs in just two days.
After being rocked on Wednesday’s opening day, when they were ravaged for a paltry 113 by a six-wicket haul by Jeremiah Louis, the Bajans’ second innings was reduced to rubble when they were torn apart for a meagre 116 in 32.3 overs.
Veteran fast bowler Gavin Tonge caused the destruction with the fantastic figures of six for 21 in 12 overs of swing bowling. The Hurricanes blew away Barbados Pride just after 4 p.m. on the second day of their low-scoring regional Professional Cricket League four-day match.
Ashley Nurse followed up his first innings 45 with another top score of 67, including eight fours and three sixes, off 71 balls after being promoted to No. 7 with the innings in tatters at 18 for five.
It was the first time since 2009, when they also won by an innings at North Stars – with the 34-year-old Tonge taking five second innings wickets – that the Leewards Hurricanes defeated Barbados Pride in the regional first-class championship.
First innings destroyer Louis had earlier caused more devastation with the bat. He scored an unbeaten 62, laced with six fours and a six, off 109 balls in 111 minutes to help the Hurricanes extend their overnight 116 for four to 233 in 84.1 overs.
He featured in a vital last-wicket partnership of 50 with tailender Jason Campbell after off-spinner Kenroy Williams captured career-best figures of five for 50 in 20 overs to be the Pride’s most successful bowler.
Louis returned with the ball to take three for 43 for match figures of nine for 112 to win the Player of the Match award.
Facing a first innings deficit of 120 runs, Tonge again jolted the Barbados top order, taking the first four wickets.
Captain Kevin Stoute, opening in place of the injured Shayne Moseley, made just four before edging Tonge to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas.
Left-hander Anthony Alleyne fell in similar fashion for one, while Jonathan Carter bagged a pair, edging his second ball from Tonge to second slip where Bonner pouched a neat, low catch.
Tonge continued his demolition job when Aaron Jones edged to Bonner, while Louis produced the perfect outswinger, which Williams snicked into Thomas’ gloves.
Moseley, who was struck on the shoulder while fielding at short leg and had to leave the field, came in at No. 6 and stayed with Nurse as Barbados went to tea on 45 for five. At that stage, Tonge had the impressive figures of 9-5-10-4.
On resumption, Nurse took a liking to left-arm spinner Campbell and lifted heavy-set seamer Mervin Matthew over extra cover for six.
But a mix-up over a single resulted in the run out of Moseley for 15, ending their sixth-wicket stand at 61 runs.
The demolition continued with Justin Greaves trapped leg before wicket by Louis for a first-ball “duck” and Jomel Warrican brilliantly caught at extra cover by Terrance Warde off Tonge.
Nurse clouted Louis for sixes over wide long-off and long-on, but was eventually caught at long-off by Jacques Taylor off the same bowler. (EZS)
