NAGICO Regional Super50 cricket...Bajans beat Leewards by 4 wickets, face Guyana Malta Supreme in 2nd Semi-final

NAGICO Regional Super50 cricket…Bajans beat Leewards by 4 wickets, face Guyana Malta Supreme in 2nd Semi-final

Feb 11, 2014 Sports

By Sean Devers in Trinidad In Association with Digicel, Carib Beer,
Giftland Office Max, Payless Variety Store & Leisure Inn & Car Rentals
Barbados topped zone ‘B’ with a 4-wicket beating of bottom placed Leeward Islands in the final preliminary round of the NAGICO Regional Super50 cricket contest at Queens Park Oval yesterday and will now face Guyana Malta Supreme in the second semi-final on Thursday.
The Leeward Islands last won the title in 2011 when they shared it with Barbados

Barbados celebrate a wicket. (Ash Allen photo)

after the Final ended in a tie, but this time they finished the eight-team tournament without a point, losing every game in one of their worst tournaments at this level.
Only 23-year-old left hander Kieran Powell who has three Tests centuries from 20 Tests since making his debut in Dominica in 2011, showed any resistance to off-spinner Ashley Nurse (6-29) with a 65-ball 34, as the Leewards were skittled out for 103 in 39.5 overs.
Barbados who reached 34-1 by dinner but struggled to reach 104-6 off 34.5 overs to register a less than convincing four-wicket win with 15.1 overs to spare.
Powell and Montcin Hodge (14) put on 46 for the first wicket but once spin was introduced on a dry track which offered prodigious turn and bounce, the Leewards barley managed to reach a triple figure score with nobody else except Devon Thomas (17) getting into the teens.
When Powell was trapped in front to the 25-year-old Nurse, who played two t20 matches for the West Indies, the Leewards were 59-2 and still very much in the fight to stage an upset win and give CCC a lease on life.
But the once promising Sylvester Joseph was run out for a second ball duck as he drove to Jason Holder at mid-off, the slide started. Holder’s direct hit ended a horrendous tournament for the 35-year-old former West Indies Test batsman who scored just four runs in his three matches.
From 59-3 at Joseph’s demise the Leewards lost Mali Richards when he edged Nurse to the Keeper at 74-4. The son of the legendary Vivian Richards laboured for 34 balls and 42 minutes for his seven runs.
After losing Jahmar Hamilton (10) at 92-5 the Leewards suffered an all too familiar collapse and lost their next five wickets for three runs with left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn supporting Nurse with 2-15.
When Barbados, hunting their sixth title, began their reply a handful of people watched as the Bajans were taken to 51-2 before Rashidi Boucher (25) was LBW to leg-spinner Anthony Martin.
But while Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite continued to demonstrate excellent temperament in his unbeaten 29 which lasted 98 balls, Barbados almost made a meal of the small score.

Ashley Nurse bowls during his six-wicket haul. (Ash Allen photo)

Jonathon Carter (3) was LBW to Martin at 61-3 and Kevin Stout (13) fell to Lionel Baker at 74-4. Baker soon got rid of Shane Dowrich (2), while Kelbert Walters bowled Carlos Brathwaite (12) in quick succession.
But the total was just too small to defend as Nurse (3*) and Kraigg Braithwaite ensured their team copped a bonus point from their win. Baker, Martin and Walters had two wickets each for the Leewards.
The first semi-final will see the host team coming up Jamaica tomorrow.
Scores: Leeward Islands 103 (Kieran Powell 34, Ashley Nurse 6-29, Sulieman Benn 2-15) Barbados 104-6 (Kraigg Brathwaite 29 not out, Rashidi Boucher 25, Anthony Martin 2-8, Kelbert Walters 2-10).