Medium pacer Kevin Stoute was Barbados' best bowler yesterday. (Picture by Brooks LaTouche.)

by HAYDN GILL in Trinidad

BARBADOS' bid for a near miracle to keep alive hopes of winning a place in the Carib Beer Challenge final was stalled yesterday by persistent showers.

On a highly frustrating day in which Barbados started way behind the eight-ball, it rained on and off for almost three hours.

When the showers started just before 1:20 p.m., Barbados had managed to claim four wickets, but by then Trinidad and Tobago had seemingly moved into an unbeatable position in the decisive last round match at Guaracara Park.

The Trinis, the reigning Challenge champions, were 392 to the good after progressing from their overnight 31 without loss to 156 for four.

The covers came off the square a few times, but every occasion they came off, they were quickly put back on to protect the pitch from another shower and eventually there was a resumption at 4:20 p.m.

Before the remaining ten overs could be completed, the rain returned, ending things at 4:43 p.m. with Trinidad and Tobago on 175 for six – an overall lead of 411.

In the limited play possible after the resumption, Kevin Stoute collected a further two wickets to add to the two he took in the pre-lunch period on a day when he sent down the most overs for Barbados.

The early finish would have allowed the players enough time to get the West Indies Players Association awards dinner in Port-of-Spain.

To facilitate their early departure from the ground, the start of play was brought forward by half-hour to 9:30 a.m., a move which was challenged by some observers who felt it wasn't a valid enough reason to adjust the set playing hours as listed in the tournament rules.

Even so, there was rain in the morning that delayed the start to the customary 10 a.m.

In the end, only three hours play were possible and only 41.2 overs were bowled, enough time and overs for Barbados to engineer some type of remarkable collapse.

Trinidad and Tobago, however, did fold in the manner Barbados tamely capitulated for 184 the previous day.

Their openers Adrian Barath and William Perkins completed their second half-century partnership of the match before Stoute, proving more than effective with his medium-pace, removed both in quick succession.

There were two outstanding acts that were responsible for wickets yesterday. The first was a direct throw by Jonathan Carter from backward point to the bowler's end that caused the run out of first innings century-maker Lendl Simmons and the other was a low catch at slip by Dale Richards that accounted for Daren Ganga.

There were some puzzling tactics by Barbados during the way.

Fidel Edwards, one of the fastest bowlers in the region, was not afforded the opportunity of having a single slip fielder at a time when there were overcast conditions.

At the opposite end, Stoute, a medium-pacer, had the luxury of two slips.