Chase shines at trials again

ROSTON CHASE missed a chance for a second century when the second Barbados cricket trial match was called off half hour early on the final day at the St. Catherine’s Sports and Social Club, yesterday.
Chase, the 19-year-old Guardian General Barbados Youth right-handed batsman was on 71 not out when stumps were drawn  at 4:30 p.m. with Jason Haynes Team, batting a second time, on 196 for eight off the 74 overs bowled in the day’s play.
 It was another eye-catching innings from the tall, elegant Combermerian who further pressed his claims to amke his first-class debut following a sparkling 136 in the first trial last week and 47 in the first innings when Haynes’ Team made 246, to which Marlon Graham XI replied with 316.
He came to the crease in the post-lunch session after Rachid O’Neale, another 19-year-old fast bowler from the Barbados Defence Force’s sports programme, had delivered an impressive eight-over spell in the morning session when he sent back openers Kofie Hurdle (15 – 37 balls, 70 minutes) and Randy Thomas (19 – 25 balls, 39 minutes) following a 35-minute rain break.
Hurdle was dropped in O’Neale’s first and second overs, the first a regulation catch in the gully which Jason Greene floored and the second, which wicketkeeper Jamal Smith got a glove to as the ball was parried to Dale Richards, who was unable to take the rebound, at first slip.
A persevering O’Neale clipped Hurdle’s edge for the third time and Smith atoned for the earlier miss with a low catch. Thomas followed when he hooked at a bouncer from the energetic O’Neale and was caught behind by Smith.
It was O’Neale’s fifth wicket of the match after bowling in all three innings and his performance would have certainly caught the eye of the three selectors, chairman George Linton, Winston Reid and Michael Inniss, who were very visible throughout the three days of the match.
Skipper Haynes fell cheaply again when he was snapped up at short leg by Rohan Nurse off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican after scoring nine in 54 minutes.
Kenroy Williams (14 – 56 balls, 69 minutes) was next to go, falling to left-arm fast-medium bowler Raymon Reifer for the second time in the game as he followed a ball angled across him and edged a first slip catch to Richards, who had dropped him off the same bowler when he was five.
It was fine bowling from the young UWI player, showing that there is another aspect of his game, which could see him becoming a genuine all-rounder in the future.
Kyle Mayers (9), Patrick Browne (12) and Joel Leacock (3) all went cheaply. Mayers drove a catch to extra cover off leg-spinner Shadd Simmons while Browne played over a delivery from left-arm spinner Jamar Griffith and Leacock pulled a short ball back to Simmons for the bowler to take a stinging return catch.
Renaldo Arthur and Chase then featured in 59-run eighth-wicket stand before the former gifted his hand for 31, giving Simmons a simple catch at mid-on in off-spinner Marlon Graham’s first over.
Chase hoisted his former Combermere schoolmate Warrican over long off for only six to add to five fours in an 185-ball knock in 211 minutes at the crease.
A third trial match is slated for January 27 to 30 when most of the Barbados Twenty20 cricketers, who were unable to play in the first two trials, are expected to be included.