Barbados had to overcome a spirited bowling performance from Kesrick Williams on their way to recording a five-wicket win over a Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) side in a Twenty20 practice match at the 3Ws Oval yesterday.
Williams, a 22-year-old fast bowler from St Vincent snared four wickets for just 20 runs from his three overs, but it wasn’t enough to stop Barbados from overtaking CCC’s total of 135 for five from their 20 overs, as they romped to 136 for five with eight balls to spare.
He accounted for opener Justin Brathwaite, who topscored with 32, Shane Dowrich, Ryan Hinds and Jonathan Carter in quick succession, to leave Barbados tottering on 82 for five in the 12th over.
But a partnership of 54 between Shamarh Brooks and Kyle Mayers helped to carry them to victory, with Mayers clouting leg-spinner Akeem Dewar over midwicket for a huge six to end the match.
Brooks finished unbeaten on 30 from 27 balls, with one four and one six, while the left-handed Mayers hammered two sixes in his knock of 25 off just 18 balls.
Earlier, after winning the toss, CCC were given a promising start by opener Chadwick Walton who made 33, and Kyle Corbin, who scored 32, after the early loss of Raymon Reifer.
The pair helped to carry the score to 63 before Walton was dismissed by off-spinner Ashley Nurse in his very first over.
Skipper Dwayne Smith then produced a fine bowling display to help restrict CCC just when they looked to accelerate their scoring.
First he had the dangerous looking Corbin caught at mid-wicket by Nurse, before uprooting Sunil Ambris’ off stump with his very next delivery to leave CCC 95 for four.
Wayne Morgan’s time at the crease was short-lived when his attempted pull off Smith only went as far as short fine leg where Justin Brathwaite took an easy catch.
Smith finished with three wickets for 20 runs from his four overs.
CCC’s final total was bolstered in the final over of the innings when Ryan Hinds conceded 17 runs, inclusive of two massive sixes by Ryan Wiggins and Jason Holder.
Despite losing the early wicket of Smith, Brathwaite’s innings which contained two fours and two sixes off 24 balls, helped to pilot Barbados to a comfortable victory in the end.
