KINGSTON – Jonathan Carter fell agonizingly short of a century on 99 but Barbados took a giant step towards the capture of the Regional Four-day cricket title on the third day of the final against reigning four-time champions Jamaica yesterday.
The left-hander added just three to his overnight 96 before falling early in the day’s play but Barbados overcame a batting slide to snatch first innings points, reaching 291 all out in response to Jamaica’s first innings of 273.
At the close, Jamaica, batting a second time, were 133 for two, 115 runs ahead, to set up an enthralling last day at Sabina Park.
Donovan Pagon was unbeaten on 42, opener Brenton Parchment hit 42, while Xavier Marshall scored 22.
Resuming the day on 197 for three, Barbados were undermined by fast bowler Andrew Richardson, who took five for 71, and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, who finished with four for 63.
Barbados lost Carter in the third over of the day, caught at fine-leg by Sheldon Cotterell, hooking a delivery from Richardson after facing 179 balls and hitting ten fours.
It was the second time in his career he had fallen one short of his maiden first-class century, after a similar occurrence against Combined Campuses and Colleges last season.
Dwayne Smith, on 16 overnight, made 29 before falling lbw to Richardson and wicketkeeper/batsman Shane Dowrich perished first ball, caught and bowled, to leave Barbados on 216 for five.
Carlos Brathwaite and captain Shamarh Brooks, both all-rounders, added 32 for the sixth wicket to put Barbados in sight of their target.
Brooks made 19 before edging Miller to Parchment at slip as Barbados then lost three wickets for 21 runs to stumble to 269 for nine, still four short of the lead.
Tino Best (11 not out) and Sulieman Benn (10) held their nerve to get Barbados the five runs they needed, reaching 285 for nine at the lunch interval of a three-hour session.
Play started half an hour early after rain allowed just 18 minutes in the final session on Saturday, and was extended by half an hour with Barbados nine wickets down.
After the break, Nikita Miller took the last wicket to fall when he removed Benn to a catch at midwicket by captain Tamar Lambert.
Parchment and Marshall posted 55 for the first wicket before Marshall fell on the stroke of tea for 22 off 53 balls with a four and a six.
Rain then prevented play until 5 p.m. (6 p.m. Eastern Caribbean time), and Jamaica pushed on steadily afterwards, with Parchment and Pagon adding 45 for the second wicket.
Parchment faced 63 balls and struck six fours while Pagon has so far faced 56 balls and struck three fours and a six – a hook off seamer Smith over long-leg.
Left-arm spinner Benn claimed Parchment to a catch at the wicket but Pagon and Danza Hyatt, unbeaten on ten, saw Jamaica to the close in an unbroken 32-run third-wicket partnership. (CMC)
