UPS AND DOWNS: It was a day of highs and lows for Dwayne Smith (leaping at left). He bowled impressively to take four wickets and help Barbados restrict the Trinidad and Tobago second innings. But he would return late in the evening to fall LBW to a rampaging Ravi Rampaul without scoring.

by HAYDN GILL in Trinidad

POINTE-A-PIERRE – Oh, what high drama!

A blatant umpiring error, a host of other appeals being turned down from both sides, a wonderful comeback by Barbados bowlers, an attractive second-wicket partnership and a sensational late evening collapse combined to produce a fascinating day here yesterday.

Until the final 45 minutes, it was Barbados' day, but a clatter of wickets, most of them in a high-class spell from comeback kid Ravi Rampaul, put a huge dent in Barbados' plans as they pursued a target of 276.

What happened in the dying stages of the third day of the Carib Beer Challenge Final, when four wickets tumbled for 14 runs and transformed an encouraging 99 for one to a worrying 118 for five, made what transpired in the opening session look like a distant memory.

The first period will be long remembered for what appeared to be a mistake by International Cricket Council elite umpire Billy Doctrove against big-hitting Kieron Pollard to the first ball he received from Ryan Hinds.

Television replays suggested the ball came from the glove for a catch to Floyd Reifer at slip as Pollard pushed uncertainly forward, and the Bajans were bitter when the appeal was not upheld.

To their credit, Barbados, in deficit by 75 in the first innings, still managed to restrict Trinidad and Tobago to 200 in their second turn at the crease and set up what looked to be a grand finish to the match.

Up one minute, down the next

It is quite remarkable how quickly the complexion of a cricket match can change.

There was hardly a sound in the ground from a crowd in excess of 5 000 when Wayne Blackman and Shamarh Brooks were batting with a measure of conviction in a second-wicket stand of 79.

Barbados, it seemed, were positioning themselves for a possible third comeback victory of the season as Blackman completed a third half-century of the tournament and Brooks further advertised his promise with 36 good-looking runs.

Once the partnership was broken, all hell broke loose, with spectators repeatedly running onto the ground at the fall of each wicket.

Rampaul outfoxed Brooks with one that cut back. Blackman edged a catch low to the keeper after making 54. And there was more drama when Reifer was prised out and Dwayne Smith undone by a superb inswinging yorker.

Howzat! Howzat! Howzat!

Barbados screamed themselves hoarse in bellowing a series of appeals and a host of them went against them.

These weren't the typical appeals. They were loud and raucous and the players seemed 100 per cent certain the batsmen were out. The major appeals were (in chronological order):

* 11 a.m. Daren Ganga ruled not out as he marginally pushed forward against Corey Collymore to a ball that pitched between wicket and wicket. (My verdict: Out)

* 11:16 a.m. Kieron Pollard ruled not out to a catch at first slip off Ryan Hinds when television replays suggested the ball came off the glove. (My verdict: Out)

* 1:30 p.m. Richard Kelly ruled not out after he was rapped on the pad to a ball from Collins that cut in slightly. (My verdict: Close call)

* 1:35 p.m. Denesh Ramdin ruled not out to an appeal for a catch off bat and pad at forward short-leg off Hinds. Umpire was unsighted by the bowler. (My verdict: not out)

* 2:05 p.m. Rayad Emrit ruled not out for a catch off the glove at forward short-leg off Hinds. Umpire was unsighted by the bowler. (My verdict: out)

Pedi, pack your bags for England

If you needed confirmation that Pedro Collins has been the finest fast bowler around this season, you got it yesterday.

Batsmen were uncertain against him, as he was doing things with the ball and putting it in the right areas.

The three wickets he gained yesterday all came from catches off the outside edge as batsmen were lured into drives. One went to the keeper, the other to first slip, and the other to third slip.

It gave Collins a second four-wicket haul of the match and pushed his tally for the season to 28.

After being ignored for the tour of Pakistan late last year, it is difficult to imagine that the selectors won't pick him for the summer's trip to England.

The value of Dwayne Smith

As much as you want to criticise Dwayne Smith for his shortcomings, you have to give him kudos when he deserves it.

He was belatedly brought into the attack after three-and-a-half hours' play yesterday and made an immediate impact.

Twice in last season's final at the same ground, Trinidad and Tobago's lower order rallied, and it did so to some extent in the first innings of this match.

Smith ensured there would be no repeat by grabbing the last four wickets.

SCOREBOARD:

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1st Innings 304

BARBADOS 1st Innings 229

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 2nd Innings

(overnight 6-1)

L. Simmons lbw b Collins 2

(cut back)

A. Barath c Smith b Collins 8

(edged drive to third slip)

A. Jaggernauth c Hinds b Collymore 30

(edged defensive prod to gully)

*D. Ganga c Reifer b Collins 44

(edged loose drive to first slip)

D. Bravo c Collymore b Hinds 4

(pulled to mid-wicket)

K. Pollard c wk Browne b Collins 24

(edged drive)

+D. Ramdin c wk Browne b Smith 29

(edged defensive prod)

R. Kelly b Smith 10

(dragged into stumps)

R. Emrit c sub (Edwards) b Smith 19

(flicked to mid-wicket)

D. Mohammed c Richards b Smith 15

(skied slash to point)

R. Rampaul not out 0

Extras (lb6, nb9) 15

TOTAL (all out – 62.4 overs) 200

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Simmons), 2-15 (Barath), 3-60 (Jaggernauth), 4-74 (Bravo), 5-123 (Ganga), 6-128 (Pollard), 7-148 (Kelly), 8-178 (Emrit), 9-191 (Ramdin), 10-200 (Emrit).

Bowling: Collins 11-3-37-4 (nb5), Collymore 11-3-30-1, Best 8-1-27-0 (nb3), Hinds 25-3-78-1 (nb1), Smith 7.4-2-22-4.

BARBADOS 2nd Innings

D. Richards b Rampaul 8

(cut back, on back foot)

W. Blackman c wk Ramdin b Emrit 54

(edged defensive prod)

S. Brooks lbw b Rampaul 36

(no stroke offered to ball that cut back)

F. Reifer c Pollard b Rampaul 5

(sensational left-handed catch at gully)

T. Best not out 12

D. Smith lbw b Rampaul 0

(hit full by inswinging yorker)

R. Hinds not out 0

Extras (lb3) 3

TOTAL (5 wkts – 38 overs) 118

Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Richards), 2-99 (Brooks), 3-101 (Blackman), 4-113 (Reifer), 5-113 (Smith).

Bowling: Rampaul 10-3-18-4, Kelly 6-0-24-0, Emrit 8-1-33-1, Jaggernauth 8-1-24-0, Mohammed 6-2-16-0.

Position: Barbados need another 158 runs for victory with five wickets in hand ahead of the fourth and penultimate day.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (Dominica), Norman Malcolm (Jamaica). TV replays: Terrance Birbal (Trinidad). Reserve official: Khemraj Barrasingha (Trinidad).

Match referee: Clarence Shaffralli.