Police, one of Barbados’ leading Division 1 teams over the past three decades, are packing their bags and heading to Upper Intermediate for 2011.
Starting the final series on 70 points and needing a minimum of 13 points to maintain their status in Division 1, they were dismissed for 168 by ICBL Empire and therefore did not get any batting points.
They can now only get a maximum of 12 points against the hosts who responded with 87 for one.
Police put on another woeful display of batting.
The script was written from the day’s fourth ball, when Ramon Harewood was caught off Carleon Brome without scoring.
Antonio Mayers was caught at square-leg off Jared Bernadine for two as Police slipped to 22 for three. Dwayne Yearwood and Brian Corbin tried to counter-attack until Yearwood was taken by Bernadin off Kevin Stoute for 26, including six threes from 36 balls.
Corbin made 37 with three threes and four fours from 66 deliveries before fast bowler Bernadin, who took three for 37, plucked his off stump out the ground in spectacular fashion.
Corbin and Dion Brome, who lashed a robust 28 containing five threes and two fours, added 34 for the sixth wicket. Medium-pacer Stoute who got the ball to swing around claimed three for 33 as Police went to tea at 139 for eight.
Kamal Boxhill and Sanaj Lewis with 19 each put on 36 for the ninth wicket but Police fell short of any batting points by seven runs.
In Empire’s response, Jason Haynes with 40 and Antonio Greenidge, 22, have featured in a stroke-filled unbeaten partnership of 53 for the second wicket.
Both players have played some memorable drives. Greenidge’s cover-driven boundary off Larry Babb had a touch of vintage about it and left the fielders in awe.
Haynes has so far counted eight threes and Greenidge has hit a half dozen threes from 38 balls.
