Now the celebrating can begin for rookie skipper Kraigg Brathwaite. And Barbados have their 22nd first class cricket title in the bag to boot.
The 21-year-old Barbados captain has earned his first title and the President’s Trophy in his first campaign, even though it came after 24 hours of hoping and praying.
Barbados emerged repeat winners of the 2014 West Cricket Board’s First Class title yesterday when the match between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago ended in a stalemate on the South American continent after rain washed away the majority of the final day’s play, ruining any chances of the Trinis earning the title.
Trinidad’s loss was definitely Barbados’ gain, as yesterday’s result saw the Bajans end on top, and the Trinis settling for second spot.
After crushing the Leeward Islands by an innings and 49 runs at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua Sunday with a day and a half to spare, Barbados ended the seven-team championship on 82 points to lift the President’s Trophy, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands.
This one could be a bitter pill for Trinidad to swallow, and they would be cursing mother nature.
The Trinis had come into the seventh and final series at the top of the table on 72 points and were the only other team with a chance of capturing the region’s most prestigious title, but their hopes were dashed by rain, which delayed the start of play and allowed only 20 overs in the pre-lunch session.
Their opponents Guyana, set 225 to win, moved to 64 for three off 31 overs from an overnight 17 for one, on a day that any result other than a draw appeared likely.
Night-watchman Devendra Bishoo was on 21 and captain Leon Johnson, 18. But rain again drove the players off the field just six overs after lunch with the score on 70 for three. Bishoo was 24, and Johnson, 21.
Play resumed just before 5 p.m., and Guyana reached 80 for three off 40 overs when the captains agreed to end the match a few minutes later at 5 p.m., leaving Johnson unbeaten on 30, and Bishoo 25 not out.
The top four teams will now turn their attention to the battle for the Headley/Weekes Trophy, which starts this weekend.
Barbados is scheduled to clash with Jamaica at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, while Trinidad and Tobago will play the Windward Islands at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The final is scheduled for April 25. (BA)
