For the first time this season, Barbados’ bowling attack looked aboveordinary

Haydn Gill04-Feb-2001For the first time this season, Barbados’ bowling attack looked aboveordinary. It was not devastating by any means, but the quality wassuch that it left the Windward Islands struggling at the close of Day2 of their fifth-round Busta Cup match at Kensington Oval.With the knowledge that anything fewer than maximum points would denttheir chances of winning the Cup, Barbados effectively defended theirfirst innings total of 267 by reducing the visitors to 103 for sevenwhen stumps were drawn.Barbados can put themselves in a position to force their secondvictory of the tournament if they can knock over the last two wicketsthis morning before the Windwards get another 15 runs to avoid thefollow-on.Windwards, still without a point this season, badly lost their wayafter their teenaged openers were separated an hour into the inningsand never recovered against an attack that was mainly dominated bythree bowlers.Corey Collymore, Hendy Bryan and Dave Marshall shared the first 43overs in which the Windwards lost the cream of their batting throughmainly a lot of indecision and a few irresponsible shots.The first of those was an attempted pull from the left-handed DevonSmith that was not kept down and resulted in a catch to mid-wicket.For the 56 minutes Smith and Rommel Currency were together, the twoplayed solidly before they fell to Marshall.The Windwards have always been susceptible against leg-spin andMarshall would have been eager to get at them following his 12-wicketmatch haul against them in Dominica last year.Skipper Ian Bradshaw brought him into the attack after only six oversand he responded with two strikes in the space of 25 minutes.The second of those was from a googly that embarrassed Currency. Theright-hander shouldered arms and, as usual, umpire Steve Bucknor, tookhis time before sending the batsman on his way.In between the dismissals of the openers, Hendy Bryan removed thereputed shot-gun Kirsten Casimir with a delivery of fullish lengthwhich the batsman was guilty of playing across the line.Windwards, who started their reply 25 minutes after lunch, went to thetea interval at 35 for three with the experienced Junior Murray andJohn Eugene at the crease.They batted for a further 45 minutes before Collymore claimed twowickets in successive balls in an over which sent a buzz around theground. Eugene edged a catch to the keeper after nibbling at a balloutside the off-stump without moving his feet.Greg Wilson, on his debut first-class appearance, came out to replaceEugene, but the tall St. Lucian did not survive his first ball. It wasof fullish length and it earned Collymore a LBW decision in the faceof Wilson indicating the ball struck the bat.The double-blow left the Windwards 58 for five and in need of a majorpartnership between Murray and his fellow Grenadian, captain RawlLewis.They were moving nicely along and had put on 24 when their sixthwicket stand was ended by a run-out that caused the downfall of Murrayfor 24. It was the sixth time for the competition that he wasdismissed in either the 20s or the 30s.The demise of Murray came in an exciting over from Bryan. Lewis hadjust spanked the bowler through the covers for a four and played analmost identical shot from the very next ball that was brilliantlyintercepted by substitute Floyd Reifer.Murray, the non-striker, might have believed the ball had gone pastthe fielder and ran the full length of the pitch to join Lewis at thestriker’s end. It was merely left to Bryan to complete the run-out atthe bowler’s end.Until then, Barbados depended mainly on three bowlers and Bradshaw andoff-spinner Ryan Austin came on late in the evening for three oversapiece.It was enough for Bradshaw to claim the wicket of left-hander DeightonButler, who cut a short ball down the throat of backward point.Earlier, Barbados, resuming from their overnight 192 for six, added afurther 75 before they were dismissed 15 minutes after lunch. Most ofthose runs came in a seventh-wicket stand of 45 between Bradshaw andAustin.Austin, who played a key role in supporting Bradshaw with the bat inthe last match, made 26 in an hour-and-a-half, while Bradshaw hit 37before he was last out to a catch at long-on.By then, Barbados were trying to push on in light of the fact that thescoring rate was just over two runs an over throughout the innings.