Half centuries from Anthony Alleyne and Jonathan Carter helped Barbados Pride stay within reach of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s first innings score when the Digicel Regional Four-Day first-round day/night contest continued at Kensington Oval yesterday.
Replying to the Red Force’s 300 all out, Pride started the day on 42-1 and reached 236 for five by the tea interval. Carter was unbeaten on 68 and Kenroy Williams not out on 15.
Opener Anthony Alleyne, not out on 29 overnight, and wicketkeeper Mario Rampersaud denied the visitors any success for the first 90 minutes, as play again started early at 1:30 p.m. to make up for lost time on the opening day.
The pair stretched their second-wicket union to 86 before Rampersaud (24) cut off-spinner Bryan Charles straight to Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin at slip. Rampersaud’s gritty knock included three boundaries and came in 106 minutes off 89 balls.
Alleyne, who struck a six and 14 fours in an attacking innings, looked set for his second first-class century when he cut Charles to Jeremy Solozano at point. He had earlier swept Charles over mid-wicket for six and cut leg-spinner Imran Khan to the backward point boundary to move to 80 and his disappointment was obvious as he slowly left the field when his innings ended on 84.
He batted for 158 minutes and faced 128 balls in an innings that took his first-class tally past the 1 000-run mark.
Debutant Aaron Jones fell cheaply, lbw for five as he went on the back foot to Khan. Captain Kevin Stoute joined Carter with Barbados having lost three wickets for nine runs in the space of 15 minutes.
The fifth-wicket pair consolidated effectively in a half-century stand that steadied the innings before and after the first break, taken at 4 p.m. with the score 159 for four, with Carter on 20 and Stoute 12.
Carter was quickly back in stride after the break, pulling Charles and Khan for boundaries. The 50 stand was raised shortly in 64 minutes off 125 balls.
Carter continued to bat with purpose, with Stoute in support. The left-hander executed a cut to backward point for four off St Clair. A miscued hook to fine leg that fell away from the fielders caused some anxiety but Carter survived to reach his half-century off 90 balls in 94 minutes with seven fours and one six.
Stoute, who had started to look more fluent with a superb cover drive was dismissed shortly after, caught behind by Amir Jangoo off left-arm medium pacer Daniel St Clair for 20. Kenroy Williams survived a chance to Roshon Primus at slip off Khan when he was six.
Ramdin entrusted the second new ball to Primus and Marlon Richards after 80 overs, with Barbados Pride 230 for five, but the move paid no dividends by tea. (PH)
