CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Day 3: Bryan stars again

Philip Spooner at Kensington Oval

It Is turning out to be a match of the No.8s.

Hendy Bryan, for the second time in as many innings, batted like a man possessed to take Barbados to the threshold of taking the Busta Cup.

Following on the heels of his 44 in the first innings, the powerfully-built allrounder blasted a run-a-ball 60 to lead Barbados to the security of 259 for nine at the end of the penultimate day.

The overall lead is now 329, a tough call for Trinidad and Tobago, who must win the game to win the cup, after Barbados put one hand on the coveted prize by earning a first innings lead of 70.

When Trinidad and Tobago batted on Sunday, captain Ian Bishop at No.8 made a polished half-century, to pull their innings out of danger.

Yesterday, it was Bryan, a No.8, who left the Trinidadians dumbfounded. Entering with his side in a spot of bother and the door wide open at 138 for six, Bryan ignited the Oval with a number of scorching boundaries en route to his highest score for his country.

It was an innings of class, spiced with four boundaries, including an extra-cover drive of the highest order off the hapless Mervyn Dillon. Dillon, guilty of being too short all day, two balls earlier had brushed Bryan on the glove, but the batsman pounced on a half-volley which chiselled its route through the off-side.

Bryan's 50 came off just 50 balls and on reaching the landmark, with a nudge to point, all his team-mates rose from their perches in the players' pavilion to applaud the effort. It was his highest score for Barbados, but 11 short of a career-best 71 made for Griqualand West two years ago in the South African Super Sport Series. Such fine performances should surely put him one step closer to a place in the West Indies World Cup 15.

Before Bryan, it was left-hander Ricky Hoyte who battled hard and long to pull Barbados around after an uncertain start. Hoyte played with discipline and caution to make 43, before playing on after two-and-a-half hours.

Over-protection was his undoing. He tried to defend a ball from off-spinner Mukesh Persad and watched painfully as the ball bounced on to the off-stump.

The work was not yet complete, and as Bryan joined Courtney Browne, the game was in the balance. Browne sensed the occasion and the pair upped the tempo, turning ones into two in adding 57. They made light work of Trinidad and Tobago's bowlers, especially Persad.

With the pitch offering some turn and bounce, Persad tended to be a bit too flat and generally started the ball on the wrong line.

It was the second time Browne and Bryan added over 50, but again Browne, after promising more, fell for 26, driving loosely to cover.

Adrian Griffith started the recovery with Hoyte after Philo Wallace, Sherwin Campbell and Floyd Reifer departed before lunch with the score on 61.

Griffith, as he has done all season, got a splendid start but failed to carry on, being caught and bowled for 35 when he erred in judgment. He tried to pull a ball that was not short enough and gave the lively Black the first of his two wickets for 41 runs.

Late in the day, Winston Reid helped Bryan add 49 for the eighth wicket, which stretched the Barbados lead as the visitors wilted.

The final play of the day typified this when Daren Ganga gave up four ``over-throws'' to take Reid to 26, as he needlessly tried to throw down the stumps.

For Trinidad and Tobago it was a frustrating day. For Barbados, it was another Hendy Bryan day.

Day 4: Bajans king of regional cricket

Philip Spooner

Barbados are the kings of cricket in the West Indies.

Yesterday, the Bajans dismissed Trinidad and Tobago for 178 in the second innings to win by 160 runs and with it the inaugural Busta Cup.

It was Barbados' 16th regional first-class triumph and crowned off a marvellous season for Roland Holder's team, which played unbeaten in seven matches, including six wins.

After collecting the winners' bounty of US$10,000, captain Holder, who missed the final because of an ankle injury, praised his players for their ``professionalism, commitment and dedication''.

``It was a great year for us,'' Holder said. ``We did really well; we had good team unity and support from everyone. We have certainly reaped the rewards of all our hard work.''

Left-arm spinner Winston Reid, bowling with the little finger on his right hand broken, proved to be a very valuable player yesterday.

The 36-year-old suffered the injury while batting late Monday when he tried to evade a short ball from fast bowler Mervyn Dillon, but rebounded to take four wickets for 61 runs off 27 overs.

Now in his 14th year of first-class cricket, he is seen as the most popular player on the team and his cup was filled to the brim yesterday when he took home the Most Valuable Player prize of US$1,000 for his 47 wickets in seven matches.

``This (title) is one of the my personal best,'' said Reid, who was part of championship teams in 1986, 1995 and 1997. ``At the start of the season, I set myself a goal of 50 wickets. But I also was concentrating on winning, and we won. I can't complain.

``Everybody keeps saying that Barbados' cricket is down in the doldrums, but we have shown that we still have players who can do the trick,'' he said. Reid currently holds the records for the most wickets by a Barbadian in a season and in regional cricket.

``The guys are really working hard as you can see from the numbers that are being selected to play for the West Indies, and they are showing their full worth, and to be amongst them still is something special to think about.''

Reid was ably assisted by 21-year-old fast bowler Corey Collymore, who performed with great steam to snatch four for 43 off 14.3 overs.

It gave him match figures of eight for 82 and has placed him in line for a selection to the West Indies team for the third Test here on Friday.

Collymore and Reid combined with a vengeance an hour before tea as the visitors lost seven wickets for 66 runs in the session.

A target of 339 in a day was always going to be difficult, but Trinidad and Tobago were looking good when Suruj Ragoonath (53) and Dennis Rampersad (18) added 78 for the second wicket in quick time.

Demolition

Reid started the demolition when he had Rampersad smartly caught at the wicket by Courtney Browne, who was again on song behind the stumps.

But it was Collymore who ripped the heart out of the opponents. It has been a long time since a fast bowler has generated pace, bounce and movement from a fourth-day pitch at the Oval, and the batsmen simply had no answer.

Bounding in from the southern end, he sent back Phil Simmons, bowled off the inside edge to make it 141 for five. David Williams evaded three lifters before fending to gully.

Without addition, Ian Bishop ``cuffed'' a lifter to mid-on for Philo Wallace to accept the offering. And the champagne moment came at 3:22 p.m. when Dillon was beaten for pace and bowled.

Reid complemented well and was ably assisted by his fielders. Ricky Hoyte held a skier at mid-wicket to send back Lincoln Roberts, who laboured for 16, while Floyd Reifer took a good running catch to dismiss Richard Smith just before tea.

Tea was taken at 156 for eight, the last three wickets falling for no runs, and the issue was formalised after the break. As soon as the final wicket fell, Barbados' sundry players and officials sprinted on to the field to engage in a celebratory prayer on the pitch.

There were plenty of reasons to celebrate.