MENACING MARTIN: Barbados got a blazing start last night from opener, Martin Nurse, who made a quick 35 with shots such as this lofted drive. (Picture by Brooks LaTouche Photography.)

by HAYDN GILL in Antigua

THE BIG GUNS have arrived.

Barbados, the first of the regional powerhouses to make an appearance in the Stanford 20/20 Tournament, started their quest toward the US$1 million jackpot with a 38-run victory over unproven Anguilla under the lights here last night

It could have been more convincing, but it was good enough before an almost packed Stanford Cricket Ground that took on a wonderful festive atmosphere.

For what might have been billed as a David v Goliath mismatch, Anguilla, comprising several teenagers and boasting only two players with first-class experience, put up a reasonable showing in the field, but were found wanting with the bat.

Even if the final margin of victory was comfortable, Barbados will have to raise their game a notch higher for the quarter-final clash which is likely to be against Trinidad and Tobago on July 28.

It was an assessment Barbados coach Hendy Springer agreed with.

"We did our work well, but we were actually looking for 200 runs. We lost a few bad wickets in the middle," Springer said.

"I was happy with the four main bowlers, but we still need to look for more refinement as we meet tougher opposition."

Barbados scored 141 for six off their 20 overs after they chose to bat first, but something around 175 seemed to be par, and Anguilla, who finished on 103 for seven, might have needed 30 overs to get the target.

The Bajans seemed headed for something more substantial on the evidence of the start they were given by Martin Nurse, whose run-a-ball 35 was ended by a sensational catch down the ground, and Dale Richards, with a run-a-ball 21.

Jason Haynes, an accustomed opener who came in at No. 4 on his first appearance in senior Barbados colours, hit the topscore of 38 off 31 balls using effective, orthodox methods that did not even suggest he was scoring at such a brisk clip.

Some of the other batsmen, however, were found wanting in this new fast-food version of the game and the final acceleration never came.

A couple of wickets were also gifted, including Sulieman Benn, who came in at No. 6, hoisted a six, and was bowled middle stump attempting an inexplicable reserve sweep.

It is virtually unheard of for the final over of a limited-overs match to yield only four runs, but 15-year-old Chesney Hughes managed to contain the Bajans at the death in his only over of the innings.

Hughes, certainly one for the future, was also Angilla's best batsman on the night with a promising innings of 20.

Anguilla, always facing a challenge to score at 7.10 runs an over, were never out of the blocks.

Once Pedro Collins struck twice inside the first five overs, it was only a question of how big Barbados' victory would be.

One of those strikes came courtesy of a stupendous, left-handed diving catch by wicket-keeper Carlo Morris.

Corey Collymore, not known for fielding inside the circle, also took a good low catch at mid-wicket and effected an under-arm run-out to typify Barbados' effort in the field.

No Barbados bowler suffered a caning as such and Collins was the most outstanding with three for 13 from his allotted four overs.

Fidel Edwards, in his first major match since sidelined by injury in early June, went wicketless, but was more than effective in his four overs that cost 15.

SCOREBOARD:

BARBADOS

M. Nurse c Richardson b Skellekie 35

D. Richards c Richardson b Walters 21

F. Reifer c wk Rogers b Hodge 1

J. Haynes c and b M. Hodge 38

A. Mayers not out 16

S. Benn b M. Hodge 6

+C. Morris lbw b Skellekie 2

*I. Bradshaw not out 9

Extras (lb7, w2, nb4) 12

TOTAL (6 wkts – 20 overs) 141

Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Richards, 6.2), 2-51 (Reifer, 7.3), 3-76 (Nurse, 11.5), 4-115 (Haynes, 16.2), 5-121 (Benn, 16.5), 6-124 (Morris, 17.3).

Did not bat: P. Collins, F. Edwards, C. Collymore.

Bowling: Walters 4-0-22-1 (w1), Proctor 1-0-14-0, C. Hodge 4-0-24-1 (w1), Adams 4-0-19-0, Skellekie 4-0-28-2, M. Hodge 2-0-23-2 (nb2), Hughes 1-0-4-0.

ANGUILLA

L. Richardson c Collymore b Bradshaw 17

L. Lake c wk Morris b Collins 0

A. Adams lbw b Collins 0

C. Hughes c wk Morris b Collymore 20

M. Hodge b Benn 15

D. Skellekie b Collins 18

+I. Rogers run out 8

T. Adams not out 6

*C. Hodge not out 5

Extras (b4, lb5, w3, nb2) 14

TOTAL (7 wkts – 20 overs) 103

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Lake, 2.5), 2-13 (Adams, 4.3), 3-47 (Hughes, 9.4), 4-48 (Richardson, 11.1), 5-72 (M. Hodge), 6-90 (Rogers, 17.3), 7-92 (Skellekie, 18.1).

Bowling: Collins 4-0-13-3 (w1, nb1), Edwards 4-0-15-0 (w1), Bradshaw 3-0-22-1, Collymore 4-0-21-1, Benn 4-0-15-1, Mayers 1-0-8-0.

Toss: Barbados.

Result: Barbados won by 38 runs.

Man-Of-The-Match: Pedro Collins (US$25 000)

Play-Of-The-Match: Carlo Morris (US$10 000)

Umpires: Basil Morgan, Alvin James-Knight. TV replays: Clancy Mack. Reserve official: Austin Christopher.

Match referee: Pat Whyte.

* haydngill @nationnews.com