NORTH SOUND – Barbados, set up by a four-wicket haul from off-spinner Ashley Nurse, routed the Leeward Islands for a meagre 94 in 34.4 overs and then fortified their position with a dominant top-order batting display on the opening day of their seventh and penultimate round regional first-class cricket match, yesterday.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite was not out on 73, along with Kirk Edwards on 10 as Barbados reached 167 for one in 58 overs at stumps in their match at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
Left-handed opener Omar Phillips was the lone Barbadian batsman dismissed when he was caught at midwicket by Jahmar Hamilton off leg-spinner Anthony Martin for 79.
Phillips, who stroked 12 fours in his 133-ball knock, featured in a solid 146-run opening stand in 159 minutes with Brathwaite, who hit eight fours off 151 balls in 204 minutes.
Earlier, the Leewards, who won the toss and batted, were shot out 25 minutes after lunch with wicketkeeper Devon Thomas hitting the top score of 30.
Nurse finished with four for 24 in 10.4 overs while Jonathan Carter took two for eight with his deceptive medium-fast bowling and lanky left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn chipped in with two for nine.
Experienced fast bowler Fidel Edwards, in his first match of the tournament, made the first strike when he induced Javier Liburd (four) to give Nurse at catch at second slip.
Orlando Peters was caught behind by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich off medium-pacer Kevin Stoute for three as the Leewards slipped to 14 for two.
Carter captured the key wicket of Leewards captain Kieran Powell for 16 when the batsman cut a delivery to point where Shai Hope, who replaced Roston Chase in the side, took a low catch.
At that stage, the Leewards were 47 for three and they quickly lost another four wickets for just ten runs to dip to 57 for seven.
Thomas snicked a catch to Dowrich off Nurse while Hamilton was caught at gully by Carter off Nurse for a “duck”. It got even worse as Jacques Taylor was snapped up at forward short-leg by Phillips off Nurse, also without scoring.
Gavin Tonge was next to go for one, top-edging a short delivery from Carter for Fidel Edwards to take the catch at fine-leg.
Benn, who came into the attack as sixth bowler, held a return catch to remove Jaison Peters for 14 before trapping Yannick Leonard leg before wicket for 15.
Nurse wrapped up the innings, having Kelbert Walters caught at long-off by Carlos Brathwaite for four, leaving Martin not out one.
