BARBADOS’ cricketers are off and running in the St Kitts 13-and-Under Festival, thanks to outstanding performances from Akil Greenidge and Camarie Boyce yesterday.The Bajan boys completed a big victory by 164 runs against Antigua and Barbuda at Warner Park in St Kitts where a swashbuckling century from Greenidge and a five-wicket haul by Boyce earned them a share of the Man-Of-The-Match award.Greenidge, batting at No. 3, blasted a belligerent 118 that included nine sixes and ten fours after Barbados batted first on winning the toss.It was the highest score in the 14-year history of the tournament and twice he hit the ball completely out of the international ground.Greenidge’s effort lifted Barbados to an imposing 236 for five off 25 overs to which the opponents responded with 72 in 12.1 overs.
Antigua and Barbuda were undermined by Boyce, a ten-year-old diminutive leg-spinner who is the youngest member of the Barbados squad.With rain threatening early in the innings, the spinners were introduced and Boyce ran through the batting by grabbing five for seven in 4.1 overs.Off-spinner Deswin Currency and fast bowler Shamar Springer supported with two wickets each.Before the fireworks from Greenidge, Barbados got off to a good start.Captain Lee-Germon Gaskin cracked 31 with five fours and a six and fellow opener Leniko Boucher weighed in with 33. Nicholas Kirton also made 27.Greenidge’s century was the sixth in the history of the competition in which the previous two came from the bat of another Barbadian, Anthony Alleyne.Boyce was one of three debutants in the Barbados line-up – the others were batsman Sachin Clarke and off-spinner Ngozi Seale. Other players are expected to get their first chance today against St Kitts. (HG)
Summarised scores:
Barbados 236-5 in 25 overs (Akil Greenidge 118, L. Boucher 33, L. Gaskin 31, N. Kirton 27; H. Tonge 2-45). Antigua and Barbuda 72 in 12.1 overs (S. Bridgeman 19; Camarie Boyce 5-7, S. Springer 2-16, D. Currency 2-34). Barbados won by 164 runs.
