A COUPLE OF crucial catches which went abegging proved costly, and left Barbados in a position of concern and not comfort heading into today’s final day of their second-round Headley-Weekes first-class cricket match at Kensington Oval against the England Lions.
Diminutive Worcestershire batsman James Taylor benefited from both blunders and made Barbados pay dearly with an unbeaten 97 by leading a strong England “A” reply of 349 for four, to Barbados’ challenging first innings total of 471 as the visitors batted for the entire third day.
The 21-year-old right-handed Taylor, who made 96 in the first round against the Leeward Islands, was missed on 20 and 73 but he batted with plenty of responsibility and steely resolve.
He struck six fours in an innings which has so far spanned 330 minutes off 239 balls while moving to within three runs of a seventh first-class century.
He featured in a solid fourth-wicket partnership of 156 with captain James Hildreth after brothers Pedro Collins, who was the pick of the bowlers with three for 65 in 25 overs, and Fidel Edwards had each taken a wicket in the first half-hour to reduce England to 116 for three after they resumed on 101 for one.
Hildreth, who posted his 50 with a six off leg-spinner Shamarh Brooks, batted cautiously for the most part in gathering 81 runs in 273 minutes off 208 balls with four fours and a six.
However, he was undone by a delivery angled across him from Collins and edged a low catch to the lanky Jason Holder at second slip.
After his dismissal, England Twenty20 wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter dominated an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 77 with Taylor, in moving to an unbeaten 47 (3×4, 1×6, 70 balls) to leave the Lions needing a further 123 runs for first innings honours.
The day started encouragingly for Barbados when Collins bowled Yorkshire county captain Andrew Gale for 37 and Edwards induced opener Adam Lyth, who had moved from his overnight 48 to 58, to edge to first slip where Dale Richards pouched a neat low catch to his left.
Hildreth and Taylor then took the score to 183 for three at lunch but Barbados missed an opportunity to separate the pair.
Brooks, who made little impression with his leg breaks in the six overs he was given during the day’s play, dropped a sharp catch to his right at second slip offered by Taylor, when he was just 20 off seamer Kevin Stoute.
The post-lunch session was generally one of containment as the young England Lions managed only 64 runs in the two-hour session, taking the score to 247 for three as Hildreth and Taylor consolidated the innings against steady Barbados bowling on a docile pitch.
On resumption, Barbados took the second new ball after 85 overs and Edwards, bowling with more pace and aggression than in the morning session, induced Hildreth to miscue a couple of hook shots but each time the ball fell way short of the fielders posted on the boundary.
Edwards also tested Taylor with a number of bouncers but he wisely opted to duck out of the way while at the other end, Collins captured his third wicket, removing the obdurate Hildreth 19 short of his 21st first-class century.
But Barbados were unable to make further inroads as rookie wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, who had a tough day behind the stumps, spilled a one-handed leg side chance when Taylor fended off a lifting delivery from a fired-up Edwards, who also struck Kieswetter on the body.
A sharp shower stopped play for 35 minutes and when the action resumed, Taylor pulled Holder to the square leg boundary while captain Ryan Hinds, who sent down only 15 overs, six of which were maidens, was smashed for a straight six by Kieswetter.
It was a disappointing day for the 200-odd die-hard spectators on hand as Barbados managed to take a mere three wickets.
Not even the presence of Dwayne Smith as a substitute fielder in the final session, after he was initially not allowed to field, lifted their spirits.