BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Fourteen wickets tumbled as title hopefuls Barbados Pride grabbed the edge over Leeward Islands Hurricanes, on the opening day of their crucial final round game here Friday.

Opting to bat first, Hurricanes slumped to 119 all out, half-hour before tea at Warner Park and Pride finished the day on 145 for four – a lead of 26 runs heading into day two.

The visitors were 84 for one at one stage but lost unnecessary wickets – three for 21 runs – towards the end to concede some of their advantage.

Opener Omar Phillips has so far top-scored with 42 while partner and captain Kraigg Brathwaite chipped in with 31 and Test player Shai Hope, 27.

Roston Chase, unbeaten on 22 at the end and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, 17 not out, have so far put on 40 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand to stem the tide of wickets.

Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall has taken three for 50, to be the most successful bowler.

Earlier, Hurricanes struggled after taking first knock as Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, with three for 33, and fast bowler Kemar Roach, with two for 21, destroyed the innings.

Pacer Miguel Cummins picked up for 30.

Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton continued his good form with 42 while the returning Kieran Powell, in his second innings of the season, followed up his half-century last weekend with 33.

However, they were only two of four in double figures and the only two to pass 20.

Hurricanes seemed to be recovering at 41 for two after Keacy Carty (2) and Montcin Hodge (1) perished cheaply, but they lost three wickets for just five runs to crash to 46 for five.

The left-handed Powell was again fluent, carving out five fours and a six off 45 balls before he was third out, caught at leg slip by Jonathan Carter off part-time off-spinner Chase.

Hamilton then anchored the two best stands of the innings, putting on 34 for the sixth wicket with Cornwall (11) and adding a further 28 for the seventh wicket with Jacques Taylor (11).

He faced 91 balls in 103 minutes and struck four fours and a six before he was seventh out.

In reply, Phillips and Brathwaite gave Pride a handy start, adding 64 for the first wicket.

The left-handed Phillips counted seven fours and a six off 70 balls while the right-handed Brathwaite faced 77 balls and gathered three fours.

Phillips was first to fall, edging off-spinner Jacques Taylor to Cornwall at slip and four overs later, Brathwaite followed, playing back to Cornwall and going lbw.

Shamarh Brooks lasted 11 balls before falling to a catch at mid-wicket by Powell off Cornwall and Hope was caught at the wicket, also off Cornwall, after facing 42 balls and hitting four fours.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scores:

HURRICANES 119 all out (Jahmar Hamilton 42, Kieran Powell 33; Jomel Warrican 3-33, Kemar Roach 2-21, Miguel Cummins 2-30)

PRIDE 145 for four (Omar Phillips 42, Kraigg Brathwaite 31, Shai Hope 27, Roston Chase 22 not out; Rahkeem Cornwall 3-50)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HURRICANES 1st Innings

K Powell c Carter b Chase 33

K Carty c Carter b Roach 2

M Hodge c Carter b Roach 1

S Peters c wkp Dowrich b Warrican 4

*O Peters b Cummins 1

+J Hamilton b Cummins 42

R Cornwall c Chase b Warrican 11

J Taylor c Carter b Brathwaite 11

J Louis run out 0

G Tonge st Dowrich b Warrican 4

A Joseph not out 4

Extras (lb4, nb2) 6

TOTAL (all out, 50.2 overs) 119

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-27, 3-41, 4-46, 5-46, 6-80, 7-108, 8-111, 9-112, 10-119.

Bowling: Cummins 12-5-30-2 (nb2), Roach 9-5-21-2, Chase 5-0-15-1, Warrican 16.2-7-33-3, Stoute 5-1-12-0, Brathwaite 4-0-4-1.

PRIDE 1st Innings

*K Brathwaite lbw b Cornwall 31

O Phillips c Cornwall b Taylor 42

S Hope c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 27

S Brooks c Powell b Cornwall 2

R Chase not out 22

+S Dowrich not out 17

Extras (nb4) 4

TOTAL (6 wkts, 44 overs) 145

To bat: J Carter, K Stoute, M Cummins, K Roach, J Warrican.

Bowling: Cornwall 19-5-50-3 (nb2), Joseph 5-1-12-0, Louis 5-1-14-0, Tonge 3-0-22-0, Taylor 9-1-34-1, Peters 2-0-5-0, Powell 1-0-8-0.

Position: Pride lead by 26 runs with six wickets intact.

Umpires: Nigel Duguid, Martin Saggers.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - All-rounder Shamar Springer and fast bowler Chemar Holder, who both performed outstandingly for the champion West Indies Under-19 team at the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh last month, will be on opposite sides as the attention now turns to the first two Barbados Under-19 one-day trial matches this weekend.

Springer is in a team captained by his Combermere schoolmate Leniko Boucher against another Combermerian Nicholas Kirton's X1, which includes Holder, a St. Leonard's student, at the Yorkshire ground, Friendship on Sunday, March 20.

On Saturday, March 19, the captains are Keemar Burrowes of Alexandra and Lester Vaughan's Shavon Brooks, the brother of Barbados batsman Shamarh Brooks, in a clash at the St. Catherine ground, Bayfield.

The Under-15s and Under-17s have already played three trial matches each.

Teams:

At Bayfield:

Keemar Burrowes (captain), Rashad Mayers (Alexandra), Brandon Sealy (Harrison College), Ayo Barrow (St. Leonard's), Demario Richards, Kyle Scantlebury (Ellerslie), Dondre Jones (Coleridge & Parry), Shakeem Drakes (SJPP), Shem Brathwaite (Princess Margaret), Taahir Bulbulia (BCC), Ronaldo Callender (Lodge, Elijah Hoyte (Alleyne), Ajani Waterman (Queen's College), Jeron Murphy, Tashawn Boyce, Juwan Crick (NA).

Shavon Brooks (captain, Lester Vaughan), Danyl Husbands, Shakeem Blades, Jermain Davis (Foundation), Darren Alleyne, Dario Greaves (Alexandra), Gevon Went-King, Quadre Smith (SJPP), Reniel Smith, Kevon Bartlett (Combermere), Rico Hurley (Frederick Smith), Paulanderson Fields (Princess Margaret), Dashon Walcott (Deighton Griffith), Mical Stuart (St. Leonard's), Nathan Maynard (Alleyne), Zidan Harewood (NA).

=============================

At Friendship:

Leniko Boucher (captain), Hasani Newton, Shamar Springer (Combermere), Dominic Hart (Harrison College), Mario Hinds, Shem Watson, Dominic Drakes (Foundation), Deswin Currency (St. Leonard's), Jarion Hoyte (Lodge), Shkym Haynes, Shaquane Cave (Alexandra), Javed Leacock (BCC), Donte Niles (Queen's College), Jiovanni Forde-Watson (Coleridge & Parry).

Nicholas Kirton (captain), Thaddeus Chase, Naje Holder, Shian Brathwaite (Combermere), Khalil Herbert, Chemar Holder (St. Leonard's), Shakib Kellman (Ellerslie), Sylvester Moore, Javere Dowridge (BCC), Tyrell Payne (Graydon Sealy), Joshua Bishop (Alexandra), Limar Pierce (Foundation), Nagid Forde (Lodge), Jadeja Edwards (NA).

First Published On bcacricket.org.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich narrowly missed out on his fourth first class hundred while Roston Chase and tail-ender Kemar Roach notched half-centuries, as Barbados Pride took command of their final round game against Leeward Islands Hurricanes here Saturday.

Resuming from their overnight 145 for four, Pride piled up 436 all out at Warner Park, courtesy of 96 from Dowrich, 62 from Chase and a career-best 53 from Roach.

Part-time off-spinner Chase then removed the resurgent Kieran Powell for eight with the score on 11, to leave the hosts struggling on 18 for one at the close – still requiring a further 299 runs to make Pride bat again.

Pride resumed the second day here needing to push on strongly and did so thanks to a 96-run fifth wicket partnership between Dowrich and Chase.

Dowrich, resuming on 17, hit six fours and a six in an innings lasting 230 balls in a shade over 5-1/4 hours while Chase, starting the day on 22, faced 95 balls in two hours and hammered seven fours and two sixes.

Chase, who went past 700 runs for the season during his innings, was the only wicket to fall in the session, taken at mid-wicket by Jeremiah Louis off medium pacer Orlando Peters.

He now has 710 runs for the season.

Dowrich then inspired three successive half-century partnerships which took Hurricanes completely out of the game.

First, he put on 61 for the sixth wicket with left-hander Jonathan Carter who scored a breezy 36, added a further 68 for the seventh wicket with Kevin Stoute who made an equally attractive 42 before posting 51 for the eighth wicket with Roach.

Unbeaten on 18 at lunch with Pride on 232 for five, Carter was eventually bowled by off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall who was the best Hurricanes bowler with five for 155.

Stoute, meanwhile, struck five fours off 71 deliveries before edging a drive behind off medium pacer Sherwin Peters at 330 for seven.

With three figures in sight, Dowrich was eighth out, chasing a wide ball from medium pacer Louis (2-58) and nicking a catch to Cornwall at first slip. When Jomel Warrican was bowled without scoring off the very next ball, Hurricanes were hopeful of cleaning up the tail swiftly.

But Roach ensured the tail wagged. He struck four fours and three sixes off 68 deliveries and added 55 for the last wicket with Miguel Cummins who finished on 29 not out from from 18 balls, with two fours and two sixes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scores:

HURRICANES 119 all out (Jahmar Hamilton 42, Kieran Powell 33; Jomel Warrican 3-33, Kemar Roach 2-21, Miguel Cummins 2-30) and 18 for one.

PRIDE 436 (Shane Dowrich 96, Roston Chase 62, Kemar Roach 53, Omar Phillips 42, Kevin Stoute 42, Kraigg Brathwaite 31; Rahkeem Cornwall 5-155, Jeremiah Louis 2-58)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HURRICANES 1st Innings 119

PRIDE 1st Innings (overnight 145 for four)

*K Brathwaite lbw b Cornwall 31

O Phillips c Cornwall b Taylor 42

S Hope c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 27

S Brooks c Powell b Cornwall 2

R Chase c Louis b O. Peters 62

+S Dowrich c Cornwall b Louis 96

J Carter b Cornwall 36

K Stoute c wkp Hamilton b S. Peters 42

K Roach c Taylor b Cornwall 53

J Warrican b Louis 0

M Cummins. not out 29

Extras (b5, lb3, nb8) 16

TOTAL (all out, 122.3 overs) 436

Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-84, 3-96, 4-105, 5-201, 6-262, 7-330, 8-381, 9-381, 10-436

Bowling: Cornwall 47.3-7-155-5 (nb4), Joseph 5-1-12-0, Louis 13-1-58-2, Tonge 14-1-48-0, Taylor 17-2-64-1, S Peters 16-2-56-1 (nb3), Powell 1-0-8-0, O Peters 9-2-27-1 (nb1).

HURRICANES 2nd Innings

K Powell c Brathwaite b Chase 8

K Carty not out 2

J Louis not out 7

Extras ((nb1) 1

TOTAL (1 wkt, 9 overs) 18

Fall of wicket: 1-11.

Bowling: Chase 4-2-8-1, Roach 2-0-3-0 (nb1), Warrican 2-1-4-0, Cummins 1-0-3-0.

Position: Hurricanes trail by 299 runs.

Umpires: Nigel Duguid, Martin Saggers.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Disappointing batting marked the first Barbados Under-19 trial match as Shavon Brooks' X1 beat Kemar Burrowes' X1 by 70 runs at Bayfield.

After winning the toss on a hot, sunny day, Brooks' side made 138 all out in 33.3 overs with Brooks, the brother of Barbados batsman, Shamarh Brooks, hitting the topscore of 22 off 27 balls including three boundaries at No. 4.

Rico Hurley contributed 20 at No. 9.

There were two wickets each for medium-fast bowler Shem Brathwaite, off-spinner Ronaldo Callender, left-arm spinner Burrowes and left-arm seamer Kyle Scantlebury.

Burrowes' team were bundled out for 68 in 22.4 overs. Only two batsmen - Ayo Barrow (15) and Ajani Waterman (12) reached double-figures.

Extras amounted to 25 including 20 wides and three no-balls.

The Smiths were in the forefront of the bowling. Left-arm seamer Quadre Smith grabbed three for ten off five overs and medium-fast Reniel Smith, three for 22 off seven overs, while off-spinner Shakeem Blades took two for ten.

Hopefully, there will be a much better batting display in the second match at the Yorkshire ground, Friendship on Sunday, March 20. 

It features two members of the victorious West Indies Under-19 team at last month's ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh - all-rounder Shamar Springer and fast bowler Chemar Holder, who are on opposite sides led by national Under-19 team players, Leniko Boucher and Nicholas Kirton.

SCORECARD

SHAVON BROOKS' X1

Kevon Bartlett b Scantlebury                     2   (6 balls)

Danyl Husbands c Jones b Brathwaite       19  (30 balls, 2x4)

Jermain Davis lbw b Scantlebury                0  (3 balls)

*Shavon Brooks c Drakes b Brathwaite     22  (27 balls, 3x4)

Gevon Went-King b Burrowes                    10  (25 balls, 1x4)

+Mical Stuart lbw b Callender                    8  (13 balls, 2x4, 1x6)

Reniel Smith c Mayers b Burrowes            18  (26 balls, 2x4)

Zidan Harewood c Mayers b Callender       14  (22 balls, 2x4)

Rico Hurley c Callender b Mayers              20  (28 balls, 2x4, 1x6)

Nathan Maynard not out                            6  (21 balls)

Shakeem Blades run out                            1  (1 ball)

Paulanderson Fields not out                        0  (0 balls)

Extras (lb1, w16, nb1)                             18

TOTAL (all out, 33.3 overs)                     138

Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Bartlett, 1 ov), 2-9 (Davis, 2.3), 3-36 (Husbands, 9.4), 4-57 (Brooks, 11.5), 5-75 (Stuart, 16.4), 6-75 (Went-King, 17.3), 7-106 (Harewood, 24.4), 8-110 (Smith, 27.2), 9-135 (Hurley, 33), 10-138 (Blades, 33.3).

Bowling: Scantlebury 5-0-23-2 (w2), Jones 4-0-11-0 (w5), Brathwaite 4-0-11-2 (w2), Drakes 2-0-24-0 (w2, nb1), Callender 7-2-19-2 (w1), Burrowes 6-0-22-2, Mayers 3-0-20-1, Hoyte 2.3-1-7-0 (w4).

KEEMAR BURROWES' X1

+Tashawn Boyce c Harewood b R. Smith      4  (9 balls)

Juwan Crick c Davis b Fields                        0  (4 balls)

Demario Richards c Davis b R. Smith           2  (23 balls)

Ayo Barrow run out (Fields)                      15  (43 balls, 1x4)

Marc Cyrus c Davis b R. Smith                    0  (1 ball)

Ajani Waterman c Hurley b Q. Smith         12  (19 balls, 2x4)

Elijah Hoyte c Walcott b Q. Smith               0  (4 balls)

Rashad Mayers b Q. Smith                         0  (1 ball)

Taahir Bulbulia c Hurley b Blades                6  (22 balls)

Kyle Scantlebury not out                            4  (12 balls)

Jeron Murphy c wk Stuart b Blades             0  (2 balls)

Extras (b1, lb1, w20, nb3)                        25

TOTAL (all out, 22.4 overs)                       68

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Crick, 1.3 ov), 2-16 (Boyce, 4.2), 3-25 (Richards, 8.5), 4-25 (Cyrus, 9), 5-50 (Waterman, 14), 6-54 (Hoyte, 15.4), 7-54 (Mayers, 15.5), 8-60 (Barrow, 19.1), 9-68 (Bulbulia, 22.2), 10-68 (Murphy, 22.4).

Bowling: R. Smith 7-0-22-3 (w7), Fields 5-0-21-1 (w8, nb3), Q. Smith 5-1-10-3 (w4), Blades 4.4-0-10-2 (w1), Greaves 1-0-3-0.

Result: Brooks' X1 won by 70 runs.

Toss: Brooks' X1.

Umpires: Clyde Alleyne, Jeffrey Holder.

Scorers: Amelia "Me Me" Crick, Jacqueline Crick.

First Published On bcacricket.org.

After nine rounds of Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day cricket, it all comes down to the final round of matches this weekend.

It's a two-horse race to the title with seven points separating the Guyana Jaguars and the Barbados Pride.

You can watch a live webcast of all three matches.

Jaguars vs Scorpions

Live streaming video by Ustream

Hurricanes vs Pride

Live streaming video by Ustream

Red Force vs Volcanoes

Live streaming video by Ustream

Live online text updates

Tweets by @WindiesRegional​

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Test left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican proved his worth with a six-wicket second innings haul as Barbados Pride pulled off an emphatic innings and 93-run victory over Leeward Islands Hurricanes on the penultimate day of their final round clash here Sunday.

Warrican claimed six for 102 to finish as Hurricanes, resuming the day at Warner Park on 18 for one, were dismissed for 224 on the stroke of the scheduled tea interval.

He finished with match figures of nine for 135.

However, the victory was not enough to hand them the Headley/Weekes Trophy as leaders Guyana Jaguars, who started the final round seven points ahead, also pulled off an innings victory over Jamaica Scorpions in Georgetown.

Captain Orlando Peters top-scored with 60, Jahmar Hamilton got 33 and Jeremiah Louis 26, but Hurricanes failed to recover significantly after plunging to 82 for five just before lunch.

Nightwatchman Louis, unbeaten on seven overnight and opener Keacy Carty, on two at the start, extended their second wicket stand to 32 before they were separated.

Carty was bowled by Cummins and Louis followed three overs later to a catch at the wicket off seamer Kevin Stoute, at 55 for three.

Montcin Hodge (7) and Sherwin Peters (10) fell to Warrican in quick succession to leave Hurricanes stumbling at the break on 84 for five.

Orlando Peters then carved out his third first class half-century after lunch, putting on 67 for the sixth wicket with Hamilton.

The right-handed Peters struck eight fours and a six off 105 balls in 1-3/4 hours while Hamilton produced a breezy 43-ball knock which included three fours and a six.

Both were flourishing when Hamilton pulled part-time seamer Jonathan Carter to Shai Hope at mid-wicket, to depart at 149 for six.

His dismissal signaled the beginning of the end for Hurricanes as their last four wickets fell for 57 runs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scores:

HURRICANES 119 all out (Jahmar Hamilton 42, Kieran Powell 33; Jomel Warrican 3-33, Kemar Roach 2-21, Miguel Cummins 2-30) and 224 (Orlando Peters 60, Jahmar Hamilton 33, Jeremiah Louis 26; Jomel Warrican 6-102)

PRIDE 436 (Shane Dowrich 96, Roston Chase 62, Kemar Roach 53, Omar Phillips 42, Kevin Stoute 42, Kraigg Brathwaite 31; Rahkeem Cornwall 5-155, Jeremiah Louis 2-58)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HURRICANES 1st Innings 119

PRIDE 1st Innings 436

HURRICANES 2nd Innings (overnight 18 for one)

K Powell c Brathwaite b Chase 8

K Carty b Cummins 13 30 63 1 0

J Louis c wkp Dowrich b Stoute 26

M Hodge c wkp Dowrich b Warrican 7

S Peters c Stoute b Warrican 10

*O Peters c Carter b Warrican 60

+J Hamilton c Hope b Carter 33

R Cornwall c Carter b Warrican 17

J Taylor not out 20

G Tonge c and b Warrican 17

A Joseph c (sub) Walsh b Warrican 11

Extras (lb1, nb2) 3

TOTAL (all out, 75.4 overs) 224

Fall of wicket: 1-11, 2-43, 3-55, 4-61, 5-82, 6-149, 7-167, 8-180, 9-204, 10-224.

Bowling: Chase 10-3-40-1, Roach 7-2-14-0 (nb1), Warrican 27.4-7-102-6, Cummins 9-2-20-1 (nb1), Brathwaite 10-3-20-0, Stoute 8-1-19-1, Carter 4-3-8-1.

Result: Pride won by an innings and 93 runs.

Points: Pride 19, Hurricanes 2

Man-of-the-Match: Jomel Warrican.

Umpires: Nigel Duguid, Martin Saggers.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Skipper Nicholas Kirton slammed a century and took three wickets to lead his team to a thrilling one-run win with three balls remaining over Leniko Boucher's side in the second Barbados Under-19 trial match at Friendship on Sunday.

Kirton, a genuine all-rounder who has represented the national Under-19 team, scored 113 in a total of 256 for nine off 50 overs after his X1 were sent in.

A Combermere student, who previously represented Queen's College, Kirton went to the crease at No. 3 and hit nine fours and two sixes before he was ninth out off the last ball of the 48th over with the score 232.

His half-century came off 63 balls and contained four fours and two sixes.

Kirton and Joshua Bishop, who made 38 off 34 balls with three fours and two sixes, added 61 in 11 overs for the sixth wicket.

With wicket-keeper Sylvester Moore (26), Kirton then featured in the most productive stand - 71 off 12.3 overs for the seventh wicket.

"Lefties" were the leading wicket-takers. Left-arm spinner Shaquon Cave took three for 69 off ten overs, left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes, two for 46 and left-arm spinner Deswin Currency, two for 55.

Boucher's X1 were bowled out for 255 in 49.3 overs.

Opener Boucher, also a Barbados Under-19 team player, topscored with 57 off 65 balls including eight fours and one six.

Drakes, the son of former Barbados and West Indies fast bowling all-rounder Vasbert Drakes, who is now the head coach of the West Indies Women's team at the ICC World Cup in India, showed his all-round ability by scoring an unbeaten 44 off 43 balls with four boundaries.

As Drakes desperately tried to get Boucher's X1 home with 13 needed off the last five overs and two wickets in hand, Jarion Hoyte was bowled by West Indies Under-19 fast bowler Chemar Holder for nine off the fourth ball of the 49th over and Jamon Cole was leg before wicket by Bishop without scoring five balls later.

Bishop, who scored the only half-century and took three wickets with his left-arm in the third national Under-17 trial match at Queen's Park on March 12, grabbed three for 37 off 9.3 overs, while off-spinner Kirton picked up three for 43 off ten overs.

Holder, one of the heroes of the victorious West Indies Under-19 team at the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh last month, was, however, the most expensive bowler, conceding 66 runs off nine overs and taking just one wicket.

Shamar Springer, the only other Barbadian in that West Indies Under-19 team and for whom he was the top all-rounder, did not play on Sunday because of feeling unwell.

SCORECARD

NICHOLAS KIRTON'S X1

Shian Brathwaite b Haynes                      16   (49 balls, 3x4)

+Shakib Kellman c Boucher b Drakes         1   (2 balls)

*Nicholas Kirton c Haynes b Currency     113   (124 balls, 9x4, 4x6)

Khalil Herbert b Cave                                10  (27 balls, 1x4)

Thaddeus Chase c Boucher b Cave             0   (8 balls)

Nagid Forde c & b Cave                             0   (1 ball)

Joshua Bishop c Currency b Niles             38   (34 balls, 3x4, 2x6)

+Sylvester Moore c Boucher b Drakes      26   (36 balls, 2x4, 2x6)

Chemar Holder b Currency                        0   (3 balls)

Jadeja Edwards not out                           14   (10 balls, 1x6)

Najee Holder not out                                 8   (7 balls, 1x4)

Extras (b2, lb6, w21, nb1)                       30

TOTAL (9 wks, 50 overs)                        256

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Kellman, 2.1 ov), 2-34 (Brathwaite, 10.2), 3-64 (Herbert, 18), 4-81 (Chase, 21.2), 5-81 (Forde, 21.3), 6-142 (Bishop, 32.3), 7-213 (Moore, 45), 8-214 (C. Holder, 45.4), 9-232 (Kirton, 48).

Bowling: Drakes 9-1-46-2 (w7), Hoyte 4-1-14-0 (w3), Haynes 6-0-16-1 (w3), Cole 2-0-11-0, Cave 10-0-69-3 (w5, nb1), Niles 10-1-37-1 (w2), Currency 9-0-55-2 (w1).

LENIKO BOUCHER'S X1

*Leniko Boucher b Bishop                       57   (65 balls, 8x4, 1x6)

Mario Hinds c N. Holder b Payne              27   (27 balls, 4x4)

+Shem Watson c N. Holder b Kirton          21   (37 balls, 3x4)

Dominic Hart b Kirton                              31   (47 balls, 4x4, 1x6)

Shaquon Cave c Herbert b Forde               1   (5 balls)

Deswin Currency c wk Kellman b Kirton   30   (30 balls, 5x4)

Dominic Drakes not out                          44   (43 balls, 4x4)

Shkym Haynes c Herbert b Bishop           19   (16 balls, 1x4, 1x6)

Dante Niles run out (C. Holder)                 0   (4 balls)

Jarion Hoyte b C. Holder                           9   (22 balls)

Jamon Cole lbw b Bishop                          0   (4 balls)

Extras (b4, lb2, w7, nb3)                        16

TOTAL (all out, 49.3 overs)                    255

Fall of wickets: 1-65 (Hinds, 9.4 ov), 2-110 (Boucher, 19.2), 3-116 (Watson, 23), 4-130 (Cave, 25.4), 5-178 (Currency, 33.4), 6-190 (Hart, 36), 7-230 (Haynes, 42), 8-235 (Niles, 43.3), 9-254 (Hoyte, 48.4), 10-255 (Cole, 49.3).

Bowling: C. Holder 10-0-66-1 (w5, nb2), Payne 5-1-26-1, N. Holder 7-0-36-0, Bishop 9.3-0-37-3, Kirton 10-1-43-3, Forde 4-0-21-1 (nb1), Edwards 3-0-15-0 (w2), Brathwaite 1-0-5-0.

Result: Kirton's X1 won by one run.

Toss: Boucher's X1.

Umpires: Jeffrey Holder, Valerie Mahon.

Scorers: Mellisa King, Leslay Prescod.

First Published On bcacricket.org.

Cricinfo article.

Among the host of people that form a part of the support staff assisting the West Indies Women in their World Twenty20 2016 campaign, a tall, lanky figure stands out.

Under the blazing sun that has been beating down mercilessly on the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, Vasbert Drakes, the former West Indies allrounder, is working tirelessly with the girls in his role as head coach – throwdowns and batting lessons with the sidearm pro, fielding drills, long chats with the bowling group, et al.

Like most West Indies fast bowlers of the past, the 46-year-old Drakes cuts an intimidating figure. But beyond that tough, calm exterior was a talented cricketer who made one of the most impressive comebacks in the history of the game.

An indifferent start to his international career in 1995 consigned him to seven years in county cricket and on the domestic circuit in South Africa. But he returned at the age of 33, shining brightly throughout his second stint in international cricket from 2002 to 2004. Ask Drakes about being a late bloomer and his eyes narrow, the nostrils flare slightly and a hint of irritation creeps into his expressions.

“I never got an opportunity, so I couldn’t have done much,” Drakes tells Wisden India. “Being in the race with a great bunch of cricketers like Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop and Ottis Gibson, it was very difficult for me as young bowler to get into the squad and stay there with those fabulous bowlers around.”

Making his international debut at the age of 25, Drakes’s West Indies career was limited to five One-Day Internationals against Australia in 1994-95 and a place in the subsequent tour of England.

Capable of generating a lot of pace with a short run-up, he was a useful lower-order bat as well, but in those five ODIs against Australia, he picked up just three wickets and scored 27 runs. Lack of chances forced an international sabbatical, and Drakes decided to pursue a career as a professional.

“Since the opportunities were limited, almost none, I decided to take a break from international cricket, and in 1995 got an opportunity to play for Sussex. But it was my stint with Border in South Africa where I truly developed as a cricketer and human being.”

In a first-class career spanning over 15 years, Drakes played for four teams in the English County Championship – Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Sussex and Warwickshire – and was player of the year twice with Border in the South African Super Sports League. An international comeback was not on the radar, but a chance encounter with Viv Richards, the legendary batsman and then selector, in June 2002, changed Drakes’s fortunes.

“I had taken 60 wickets in nine games and broken a few records that season, but despite that I wasn’t expecting a call-up. I was at home relaxing and looking forward to the county season with Leicestershire when a chance to adjudicate in a match featuring the local WICB team and the touring New Zealand side came up,” recalls Drakes.

“There I met Viv Richards, who asked if I believed I could still play a role in West Indies cricket. Thanks to him, I was picked in the West Indies side as a fresher who could be of all-round use with my experience over the years.”

Comebacks at the top-level in the 30s are tough, but Drakes made an impact almost immediately. In the West Indies side for the Champions Trophy in September 2002, he picked up the wicket of Jacques Kallis in the first over of his return to international cricket after seven years.

While returning from that tournament in Sri Lanka, Drakes became one of only five batsmen in the history of first-class cricket to be given out timed out. Selected for Border against Free State in East London, it was a peculiar case as he was not even in the country at the time as his flight to South Africa had been delayed by several hours.

In his second stint in international cricket, Drakes played 29 ODIs and picked up 48 wickets at an impressive average of 22.68. But he will probably be best remembered for netting one of the most memorable catches in the history of the game.

​In a brilliant display of athleticism during the 2003 World Cup, Drakes caught John Davison, the Canada opener, at the long-on boundary. Davison was at his destructive-best, batting on 111 off just 76 balls, having scored the then fastest ton in World Cup history.

But Drakes’s agility cut down the onslaught when Canada, who were cruising at 156 for 2 in 22 overs, were bowled out for 202. Quiz him about the spectacle and he shrugs it off as “one of those fluke things that happen on a cricket field”. He followed it up with his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs, snaring 5 for 44, to hand West Indies a comfortable seven-wicket win over Canada.

“We needed something spectacular to stop Davidson, we didn’t expect it would come from a catch though,” he says. “A fluke catch where I’d misjudged the ball as it travelled very fast due to the altitude, and fortunately when I did see the ball going past me, I just stuck to the basics, kept my eye on the ball, stuck my hand out and the rest is history.”

Using his height to good effect, Drakes troubled the batsmen with accuracy and subtle movement. In six matches at the World Cup, he picked up 16 wickets at an average of 13 and economy rate of 4.01.

With four first-class centuries to his name, Drakes was also a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, who played 12 Tests from 2002 to 2004. But his most important Test innings came during the record chase of 418 in the fourth Test against Australia in Antigua. Unbeaten on 27, Drakes stitched a patient 46 for the eighth wicket with Omari Banks to pull off a sensational win.

​Even now, almost 13 years later, there is a glint in his eyes as he recalls that day. “Brian Lara, Chanderpaul and Sarwan had all batted superbly to set the tone in the second innings. As one of the oldest guys in the side, it was only fitting that I make some contribution as I hadn’t done any justice with the ball in that match.

“It was the Aussies, we certainly didn’t want to be whitewashed, so I’d mentally prepared myself and even visualised that I’d be knocking off the winnings runs. It was the power of my thinking and belief.”

As he wound up his international career, Drakes harboured talent at various levels, and was appointed as coach of United Arab Emirates in 2008. By then, his two teenaged sons, Dominic and Joshua, took a liking for the game and Drakes felt the need to prioritise.

Back home, he started coaching various regional sides in Barbados before shouldering the twin responsibilities of the West Indies Under-19 and Women’s team in 2015.

After the triumphant Under-19 World Cup campaign, where he shared coaching responsibilities with Graeme West, Drakes is hopeful that the women’s team would go the distance, having made it to the semifinals in the last three editions of Women’s World T20.

While his own career might not have panned out as expected, Drakes has no regrets whatsoever, and is looking forward to living his dream through the success of his many wards including the 18-year-old Dominic, who like his father is a fast-bowling allrounder.

First Published On Cricinfo.

CHENNAI, India, CMC - All-rounder Hayley Matthews has described West Indies Women win over Bangladesh on Sunday as ‘important’ as the team prepares for crucial matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup under way in India.

Matthews played a key role in West Indies Women second victory in the tournament, a 49 run triumph over Bangladesh Women at the Chidambaram Stadium following an opening win over Pakistan.

West Indies Women take on top rated England in their next game in Dharamsala on Thursday before playing India.

“I think that it was important for the team especially knowing we have to hard games coming up versus England and India to secure a second round in the tournament,” said Matthews in an interview with WICB media.

“It would definitely be a challenge, different conditions and so on. Obviously England are one of the better teams in the tournament so we are just looking to hopefully get a win against them  which would really give the girls a lot of confidence by going on to the India game”.

Matthews hit the top score of 41 as West Indies posted a competitive 148 for four from their allocation of 20 overs, after choosing to bat against Bangladesh.

The 18-year old faced 42 balls and struck four fours while teaming up with her skipper Stafanie Taylor to compile 67 off 70 balls for the first wicket.

Taylor also returned with her off spin to grab two for 16.

“I was not in too much forming coming over here and I didn’t really get a good spell in a warm-up game. So I was pretty happy to get some runs today and also to get the team off to a good start with Stafanie,” said Matthews.

“I have been doing a lot of work on my bowling recently so I am glad to see some progress in that area …not only with the bat”.

The result meant that the Caribbean side is now perched at the top of the Group “B” standings with four points and a healthy net run-rate of 1.325.

“It’s really good to start the tournament off with two wins especially after losing the series to South Africa,” she said.

“So we are just really looking to continue that form”.

WICB Media Release.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Following are the Official Points Standings after the 10th and final round of matches ended on Monday in the 2015-16 WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament.

Abbreviations: Pts-total points, M-matches, W-won, L-lost, T-tied, I-incomplete match, A-abandoned match, DP-Abandoned match due to dangerous pitch, MR-match referee awarding match, Bat-batting points, Bowl-bowling points

NOTE–Guyana Jaguars are the champions of the WICB PCL R4Day for the second straight year. It is the first time that the Jaguars have achieved back-to-back titles and their eighth R4Day title (including a share with Leeward Islands in 1998).

POINTS SYSTEM

Scoring of Points: As below plus any points under the bonus points system –

Completed match

Outright win 12 + batting + bowling points

Tied match

6 points each team + batting + bowling points

Incomplete (drawn) match

No outright winner 3 points each team + batting + bowling points

Abandoned match

In the event of a match being abandoned without any play having taken place 1 point each

Abandoned match due to dangerous pitch

Home Team 0

Visiting Team 12

Referee awarding match

Team Awarded Match 12

Other Team 0

Bonus points awarded only for performances in the first 110 overs of each team’s first innings only and retained whatever the result of the match.

A maximum of five batting points will be awarded based on runs scored by each team as follows:

200 to 249 runs – 1 point

250 to 299 runs – 2 points

300 to 349 runs – 3 points

350 to 399 runs – 4 points

400 runs or over – 5 points

A maximum of three bowling points will be awarded based on wickets taken by each team as follows:

3 to 5 wickets taken – 1 point

6 to 8 wickets taken – 2 points

9 to 10 wickets taken – 3 points

For the avoidance of doubt, “wickets taken” shall relate exclusively to batsmen dismissed under Laws 30 to 39 inclusive and to batsmen retired out.

If penalty runs are awarded to a team which at that time had faced less than 110 overs in their first innings, or completed their first innings before they had faced 110 overs, those penalty runs will be considered as counting towards the total as far as the award of bonus points is concerned.

If penalty runs are awarded to a team which had already faced 110 overs or more in their first innings, or had previously completed their first innings after they had faced 110 overs, those penalty runs will not be considered as counting towards the total as far as the award of bonus points is concerned.

RESULTS OF MATCHES

Round 1 – November 6 to 9

Jaguars beat Volcanoes by 104 runs – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana

Hurricanes lost to Red Force by an innings and 23 runs – Warner Park, St. Kitts

Pride beat Scorpions by 10 wickets – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Round 2 – November 13 to 16

Scorpions beat Volcanoes by 30 runs – Sabina Park, Jamaica

Pride vs Red Force, match incomplete (drawn) – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Jaguars beat Hurricanes by an innings and 35 runs – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana

Round 3 – November 20 to 23

Volcanoes beat Hurricanes by 8 wickets – Windsor Park, Dominica

Jaguars beat Pride by 9 wickets – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana

Red Force lost to Scorpions by 6 wickets – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Round 4 – December 4 to 7

Volcanoes lost to Pride by 181 runs – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada

Scorpions beat Hurricanes by 3 wickets – Sabina Park, Jamaica

Red Force lost to Jaguars by an innings and 49 runs – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Round 5 – December 11 to 14

Scorpions lost to Jaguars by 117 runs – Sabina Park, Jamaica

Volcanoes vs Red Force, match incomplete (drawn) – Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia

Pride beat Hurricanes by 10 wickets – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Round 6 – February 11 to 14

Hurricanes beat Scorpions by 85 runs – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua

Round 6 – February 12 to 15

Pride beat Volcanoes by an innings and 56 runs – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Jaguars beat Red Force by 105 runs – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana

Round 7 – February 19 to 22

Hurricanes vs Volcanoes, match incomplete (drawn) – Cancryn Junior High School, St. Thomas

Pride vs Jaguars, match incomplete (drawn) – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Scorpions lost to Red Force by 8 wickets – Sabina Park, Jamaica

Round 8 – February 26 to 29

Volcanoes lost to Jaguars by 6 wickets – Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia

Red Force beat Hurricanes by 9 wickets – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad

Scorpions lost to Pride by 6 wickets – Sabina Park, Jamaica

Round 9 – March 11 to 14

Volcanoes lost to Scorpions by 9 wickets – Arnos Vale Multiplex, St. Vincent

Red Force lost to Pride by 7 wickets – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad

Hurricanes vs Jaguars, match incomplete (drawn) – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua

Round 10 – March 18 to 21

Red Force lost to Volcanoes by 7 wickets – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad

Jaguars beat Scorpions by an innings and 55 runs – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana

Hurricanes lost to Pride by an innings and 93 runs – Warner Park, St. Kitts

WICB Media Release.

ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) says it wants to stage a series of fast bowling camps as part of a plan to rekindle an area of the game that has been struggling in recent years.

WICB Director of Cricket Richard Pybus made the announcement at the conclusion of the ten-round Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional four-day Tournament on Monday.

The WICB is pondering the introduction of an off-season training programme targeting fast bowlers after spinners dominated the just ended four-day tournament.

“We are prioritizing and looking at some camps for our fast bowlers possibly some measures off season to prioritize fast bowling in the four-day competition,” said Pybus in an interview with WICB media.

“This is going to be central to us getting that back at the heart of West Indies cricket again”.

Spinners featured prominently during the tournament including the top wicket- taker, Jamaican  spinner Nikita Miller who had 65 scalps in nine matches.

“The competition has been still dominated too much by the spin bowlers,”said the WICB Director of cricket.

“That is something that we will have to seriously address during the off season to make sure that we are prioritizing the fast bowlers”.

Guyana’s Leon Johnson with 807 scored the most runs for the season followed by Devon Smith of the Windward Islands who scored 719 – though from two matches less.

Guyana’s Vishal Singh and Barbados’ Royston Chase were other players who scored over 700 runs.

“I think something which is exceptionally positive is the quality of the batting. We are getting a consistency in the scoring,” said Pybus.

“We got a core group of young players who have put their hand up all the way through the competition. We are getting consistent with hundreds being scored. Volume of hundreds and volume of runs which I think is very positive”.

Guyana Jaguars were crowned champions of the R4Day for the second straight year.

They finished with 149 points – seven clear of nearest rivals Barbados Pride – to regain the George Headley/Everton Weekes Trophy, symbol of regional first-class supremacy.

“The first season of the PCL was very rushed and the systems we wanted to put in place to be able to support it were not where we wanted them to be,” he said.

“So this year is closer to where I would like to see the system in terms of providing support to the players and the structure of the season regarding the off season programmes for the players”.

DHARAMSALA, India, CMC - All-rounder Deandra Dottin says she is not worried by her poor form with the bat thus far and is confident she can deliver big scores for West Indies in crucial remaining Group matches of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in India.

The aggressive batter and fast medium bowler has played critical roles for West Indies who are unbeaten after two matches in the tournament.

Dottin scored 24 and picked up two wickets in their victory against Bangladesh but went without scoring while grabbing one for seven in Windies triumph over Pakistan.

“I feel pretty good not minding I have not had a big score as yet,” declared Dottin in a WICB media interview on Tuesday.

“But I still have the confidence and still have other games to play”.

The Caribbean side is preparing to take on England Women in a top-of-the-table clash in Group B on Thursday at the HPCA Stadium.

On Sunday they come up against the host at Mohali.

“They are two very important games. Me as an all-rounder if I don’t perform in one area I can actually perform in the other,” said Dottin.

“I think everybody is really looking forward to the match. I think the girls are looking forward to the game”

The Windies Women are now perched at the top of the Group “B” standings with a maximum four points, the same as the English.

They boast a healthier net run-rate of +1.325, following victories in their first two matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Dottin said confidence has grown in the Windies camp since their two-one lost to South Africa in a T20 series before the World Cup

“We have been more confident than earlier having come of a series in South Africa and knowing that we have our goal set for the World Cup,” she said.

Barbados Cricket Association article.

Bridgetown, Barbados - Keemar Burrowes and Shavon Brooks will captain the teams in the third Barbados Under-19 limited overs trial match at Desmond Haynes Oval on Saturday, March 26. 

Play starts at 9:30 a.m.

Teams:

Keemar Burrowes (captain), Rashad Mayers, Brandon Sealy (Alexandra), Nico Reifer (Queen's College), Ayo Barrow, Mical Stuart (St. Leonard's), Reniel Smith (Combermere), Quadre Smith (Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic), Paulanderson Fields, Shem Brathwaite (Princess Margaret), Shakeem Blades (Foundation), Dashon Walcott (Deighton Griffith), Elijah Hoyte (Alleyne), Tahir Bulbulia (Barbados Community College), Juwan Crick, Jeron Murphy, Zidan Harewood (NA).

Shavon Brooks (captain, Lester Vaughan), Danyl Husbands, Jermain Davis, Limar Pierce (Foundation), Demario Richards, Kyle Scantlebury (Ellerslie), Ajani Waterman (Queen's College), Rico Hurley (Frederick Smith), Dondre Jones (Coleridge & Parry), Gevon Went-King, Shakeem Drakes (Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic), Ronaldo Callender (Lodge), Dario Greaves (Alexandra), Nathan Maynard (Alleyne), Kevon Barrlett (Combermere), Tashawn Boyce (NA).

First Published On bcacricket.org.

MOHALI, India, CMC - All-rounder Deandra Dottin says she is comfortable with her role as a death overs specialist after West Indies knocked-out India on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.

Dottin bowled an outstanding last over to spur West Indies to a nerve-racking three run win over India in their Group B game at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.

She removed Ekta Bisht with a Yorker, forced the run out of Shikha Pandey and with the penultimate ball of the final over dismissed Sushma Verma to restrict India to 111 for nine.

“My heart was very good. I am accustomed. I love bowling last overs. It has become a trend for me having to bring my team to victory .I like being in that position,” declared Dottin.

“The captain told me I have to limit the boundaries. Bowl Yorkers. I said ‘it’s ok we got this’. I still have my nerve. When I am bowling I don’t have nerve. It is only when am batting I have nerves. So I am just calm when I am bowling”.

Dottin made 45 and Stafanie Taylor, the Windies Women’s captain, led the way with 47, sharing a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 77 that anchored the Caribbean side to 114 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs, after they were put into bat.

Dottin, later named Player-of-the-Match, returned to grab 3-16 from her allotted four overs, as India Women were restricted to 111 for nine from their 20 overs to silence a near capacity crowd.

“The game plan was to stay there as long as possible,” said Dottin.

“Knock around the ball get the singles, the twos and pounce on the bad balls. Try not to make rash shots. But the whole idea was to stay there until the last couple of overs “.

The result meant that the West Indies Women ended the group stage in second position with six points – two behind group winners England Women.

They will face New Zealand Women on Thursday in semi-final action at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

“We are looking forward to playing New Zealand,” said Dottin.

“We actually have the chance to be in the finals. So it’s just some work that needs to be done and this team will bring it home”.

KOLKATA, India, CMC – West Indies Women assistant coach, Ezra Moseley, believes the best is yet to come from the Caribbean side’s batting, and hopes it can click in Sunday’s final of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup against nemesis Australia.

Playing in Thursday’s semi-final against New Zealand Women in Mumbai, West indies Women rattled up 143 for six and then bowled superbly to defend the total, and come away with a six-run win.

Moseley said based on the quality in the batting unit, West Indies Women had the ability to score in excess of 143.

“I’m not certain that our batting has really clicked yet. We are better than 140 on a good pitch,” the former West Indies fast bowler said.

-

“And I am hoping that Deandra (Dottin) and the captain (Stafanie Taylor) and the others could really chip in and give us a big total in the final that we can defend if we bat first.”

Taylor has been the most consistent batsmen in the series with scores of 40, 40, 35, 47 and 25 in her five innings in the tournament.

The remainder of the batting unit has been inconsistent, however, and Britney Cooper’s career-best 61 in the semi-final was the first half-century in the tournament for the Windies Women.

Moseley said Cooper had played well despite carrying a slight niggle.

“She played well. The coach Vasbert Drakes said he was going to send her at number three and she really batted well although she was carrying a slight side strain,” Moseley noted.

The semi-final win saw the Windies Women finally break their jinx and reach the final of a Twenty20 World Cup for the first time, after bowing out at the final four stage at the previous three tournaments.

Moseley said Thursday’s win had been inspired by Cooper’s half-century coupled with tenacious bowling.

“Britney Cooper has not really done a lot with the bat in this series. She came good … and it was good to see but I thought to the bowling, most of them kept their nerves and did the business for West Indies.”

KOLKATA, India, CMC –In the space of just four deliveries on Sunday, West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite banished bitter memories that had haunted him for the last five years.

Playing in his Twenty20 International debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka back in October 2011, a 23-year-old Brathwaite conceded 14 runs off the penultimate over with the hosts needing 22 off the two last overs, in pursuit of 133.

With eight runs left off the final over, Bangladesh got home off the fifth delivery, to deal West Indies a three-wicket defeat and claim victory in the one-off T20 game.

Unable to make amends the following year when West Indies won the 2012 Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Brathwaite said leading the side to victory on Sunday against England helped make amends for his past failure.

“In 2012 I was reserve for the team. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have been there to savour the moment and it was always a dream from then,” Brathwaite said.

“I remember my debut in Bangladesh when I didn’t come through for the team and we lost, and I made it my business to say Carlos Brathwaite will develop to be a match-winner.”

Brathwaite became an instant hero at Eden Gardens as he blasted West Indies to a four-wicket win and to the capture of the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup.

With the Windies needing 19 off the last six balls, Brathwaite clattered sixes off the first four deliveries, in a stunning finish.

“It’s better than a dream. Initially the plan was just to get bat on ball and run as hard as possible. We knew we couldn’t waste any balls and that was just the first plan,” Brathwaite said afterward.

“Fortunately, I got the first couple away, that kind of settled the nerves a bit. Then after the third one, I knew that all I had to do was get bat on ball on the fourth one and we were World champions. Fortunately, all four went for sixes and here we are: world champions, a treble for West Indies cricket.”

Brathwaite finished on 34 not out off ten deliveries, in an exhilarating 54-run-run stand with Man-of-the-Match Marlon Samuels, who was unbeaten on 85 off 66 balls at the end.

He said the feeling of winning a world title was hard to describe and pointed out that the fact West Indies had achieved against the odds made the accomplishment more special.

“It’s one of those out-of-body experiences. As a young man you dream of winning a World Cup – probably just winning a game – and to be able to do it amongst all these legends in T20 cricket, to be able to do it for the people of the Caribbean [is special].” he explained.

“We were written off. Even at the break we were listening to the commentary and no one could say they backed West Indies to win and just to be able to go out there and pull it off, especially a come-from-behind victory in the way we did it, is special. We couldn’t have scripted it any better.”

Brathwaite had earlier contributed with the ball, taking three for 23 as West Indies restricted England to 155 for nine off their 20 overs.

Medium pacer Dwayne Bravo also picked up three for 37 while leg-spinner Samuel Badree claimed two for 16.

Brathwaite said his hard work on his bowling behind the scenes, had finally paid off.

“I’ve been trying really hard at my bowling because I’d let the team down in my previous games and just for everything to come together today – all the nights in the gym, all the hard yards in training trying to bowl a little quicker, trying to bowl a little better, trying to back by plans – and for it to all come together today is really, really pleasing.”

KOLKATA, India, CMC - Stafanie Taylor, the captain of West Indies Women who have just won the T20 World Cup for the first time, says a recruitment programme is needed as part of an elaborate plan to keep the sport alive in the region.

Taylor, who was voted player of the tournament, is worried that women’s cricket in the region could suffer a significant decline if a proper system is not put in place for when the current crop of players retire.

The Jamaican all-rounder says a recruitment drive needs to target schools across the Caribbean, in particular.

“We need to go into the schools and try to get girls to come out,” said Taylor.

“I think we do have girls that are interested. It’s just that you don’t have anyone to push it, and I think that’s where we need to start, by going into the schools and getting these girls out”.

Taylor, who replaced Merissa Aguilleira, as the Windies women captain last year, has been one of the leading scorers on the team along with Barbadian all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

In their impressive eight-wicket victory over Australia to win the ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday, the Caribbean side surpassed a challenging target of 149 with three deliveries remaining, following a rollicking opening stand of 120 between Taylor and teenager Hayley Matthews.

“I think we definitely need some infrastructure where as Australia and England they do have it. We need young girls coming up,” said Taylor who scored 59 off 57 balls in the finals while Matthews earned the award for Player-of-the-Match, by smashing 66 off 45 balls.

“When you look at our team. Most of us are fairly young and when these core players are gone. It’s going to deteriorate and we need to start building young players coming up”.

Taylor has also been effective as a bowler taking a total of eight wickets in the tournament, three of which came in the semi-final against New Zealand.

She has moved up five places in the bowlers’ rankings to 35th, according to the new ICC player rankings released on Monday.

Taylor says her dream is to play Test cricket which she feels will also help her colleagues improve.

“That’s one of my dreams, to play test cricket. The type of player I am I think it will definitely suit and build my game as time goes on but I will definitely love to play test cricket,” said Taylor.

“I think it will definitely help some of the girls. Longer format of the game where they could build their game and I think it will definitely help us in playing in one day games”.

Barbados Today article.

Cricket legend Sir Wes Hall is simply “over the moon”. However, his feelings over yesterday’s double victory by the West Indies men and women’s cricket teams still does not match that of the families of Hayley Matthew and Carlos Brathwaite.

Matthew’s dad told Barbados TODAY that he was “simply ecstatic” over his daughter’s performance, while Brathwaite’s father expressed immense pride.

“I had him in the yard from about two years old . . . so from early he always liked cricket. I remember I was working at Banks and during the Christmas period when I would be really tired this boy would meet me at the door with a bat and a ball.

“I used to say, ‘Carlos I am really tired. It’s not that I don’t want to play with you but I am really tired’. He used to say, ‘Daddy just bowl two or three balls at me’.  But those two or three balls would turn into three hours,” Chesterfield Brathwaite said.

As Caribbean nationals everywhere were doing the “Champion Dance”, Sir Wes was also joined by other elite members of the cricketing fraternity in Barbados and the rest of the region in hailing the teams’ performance.

Congratulations also poured in from around the region, including from the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Irwin LaRocque. At the same time, Minister of Sports Stephen Lashley called for a regional honour for the West Indies cricket teams after they won the World Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday.

While describing it as “an outstanding achievement”, which sets the tone for the return to pre-eminence of the regional side, Lashley noted that the Caribbean was the only region treated as a country within the international cricketing arena as he challenged the region to respond as a collective.

“This is something that has to be a point of discussion at the CARICOM level. Given the significance of three of our teams, the Under-19, the women and the men . . . I believe now that a fitting award, agreed to and granted, upon their return, is something that I would think that is fitting,” Lashley told Barbados TODAY.

However, the minister said, the unspecified honour should only be viewed as a first step to a regional conversation aimed at integrating sports fully into the regional planning agenda.

He insisted that the cricketers’ accomplishments were significant enough to be recognized with a fitting honour for sports achievement.

“We are having a conversation as we speak about what should happen about the West Indies Cricket Board [WICB], its structure, is it doing what it should do? That’s the discussion that is happening now at the level of CARICOM. But now that our team has done well, a fitting award agreed to and granted upon their return is something that I think that will start the kind of discussion that says, ‘hey, we’re not only going to be critiquing West Indies cricket, but we are going to be rewarding excellence when it happens.

“We have to ensure that systems are put in place to guarantee continued excellence on the part of regional sports persons.”

Lashley also suggested that if the level of unity displayed on the cricket field in Kolkata on Sunday could be replicated at the political level, the Caribbean would be better off.

In yesterday’s first final, three times defending champion Australia went down to the Windies women who scored an emphatic eight wicket win, laying the foundation for what would be double glory for the Caribbean.

A few hours later, the region, which has been starving for cricketing success, was celebrating again, but this time after a nail-biting encounter with England, which ended with Brathwaite hitting four successive sixes off English all-rounder Ben Stokes.

However, the moment proved bittersweet for the WICB itself, as captain Darren Sammy criticized the board for a lack of support.

Lashley said the captain’s comments pointed to a certain level of “frustration” on the part of the players that needed to be addressed.

He also warned that resorting to punishment would be a “retrograde step” on the part of the WICB.

“I think the circumstances require a certain bit of effort by the West Indies Cricket Board to have dialogue and discussion. I think the board itself, based on its own utterances and some of the things they have done, in terms of not dealing with and not treating certain matters in the way that they should do it, they have a good opening now.

“Rather than revisiting Sammy’s comments with punishment or whatever, it should show that it has turned the corner and will entertain and have a discussion with the players to build better relations and to move forward,” Lashley said.

He added that the board now had an opportunity “to show its mettle” in dealing with a situation that has caused embarrassment.

Meanwhile, President of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Joel Garner also had high praise for the teams.

“At the end of the day, the entire team did well and they were consistent in their performances.

“If you look at it, the territories have been fighting to try to get the programmes together to develop the skills and competencies of the players. I think that all we can do is continue to try to build on what we’ve got and continue to go forward irrespective of what people might think,” Garner told Barbados TODAY.

First Published In The Barbados Today.

Barbados Today article.

Carlos Brathwaite’s father knew yesterday would be a memorable one, not only for his family but for the entire Caribbean.

It was the day his son Carlos and his teammates, as well as their female counterparts would seek a double win in the World Twenty20 finals.

“I started off the day by saying that I would not go to work today because I feel I am going to see history made today. Because I expected the women to win and I expected the men to win,” Brathwaite, himself a former cricketer, told Barbados TODAY.

And they did not disappoint.

First, Stafanie Taylor led the women to victory against Australia in their maiden T20 win. Hours later, it was the turn of the men who faced rivals England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. When it came down to the last over, with West Indies needing 19 runs off six balls to win, it was Brathwaite who saved the day, smashing four sixes to bring home the trophy.

“When I saw Carlos facing the last over, I said to myself, ‘once Carlos don’t play his sweep shot we’re gonna make those runs easy. And he played as straight as he possibly can,” Chesterfield Brathwaite said on Sunday.

“I always tell him when he is batting try and play as straight as possible. The thing I always discuss with him is his sweet shot. He didn’t really play a sweet shot [Sunday], he played a scoop.”

His mother, Joycelyn admitted she was a novice at cricket. However, she said she wasn’t nervous when her son started batting.

“I watched the first innings and after the [first] person get out I started praying. So it was prayer that lift him up. And his ability,” she said.

For her, the four sixes he scored were one each “for the mother, father, sister and himself,” she laughed.

Chantelle Brathwaite, wearing her West Indies jersey, was beaming with pride at what her brother had just accomplished.

“I couldn’t wait to see him bat,” she said.

“I know he was going to do something big but I wasn’t sure what it was, either bowling or batting. It turned out to be both.”

For Chesterfield Brathwaite, there was more to the day than the historic wins.

“I said last week that if West Indies win these three trophies you’ll hardly hear anybody getting killed, any fights . . . for a little while. Everybody is going to be happy, nobody is going to be grumpy no more, for a little while. And it’s a real good feeling,” he said.

First Published In The Barbados Today.

Barbados Today article.

Michael Matthews, who is well known among the cricketing fraternity here, is ecstatic that his daughter Hayley is already making her mark in the game on the international scene.

The 18-year-old former Harrison College student opened the batting for the West Indies in the Women’s World T20 cricket final in India yesterday, scoring a match-high 66 runs after having taken one for 13 when Australia batted. Her efforts earned the West Indies all-rounder the player of the match award.

Her doting father told Barbados TODAY this evening that he was counting down the hours until his daughter returns home so he could tell her in person how proud he was of her accomplishment.

Matthews said when he spoke with his daughter today she was ecstatic and had yet to digest her achievement.

He said the Windies victory and his daughter’s accomplishments were answers to his prayers.

“I too am ecstatic. I was praying for God to let the West Indies team win but let Hayley be instrumental in the victory and that’s the truth,” he revealed.

Matthews said he was a nervous dad as he watched his daughter take on the mighty Australians, who were listed as favourites to retain the title which they had won on three consecutive occasions.

“It only takes one ball to get you out. I was hoping that she was concentrating,” he recalled.

“When she into the 40’s I was feeling a little more confortable. The way her and Stephanie [Taylor] batted, I knew that West Indies had an outstanding chance of winning. I was very glad that they were able to take it to the point until Hayley got out,” said the happy dad.

Matthews said he started teaching Hayley the game when she was only three after she started to show an interest by joining him and her older brother in the backyard as they played.

“She use to go to cricket with me every Sunday. And she and my son would be playing on the field at Kensington Oval,” he recalled.

And so, the father knew that his gem who played for the Barbados senior women cricket team at the age of 12, would begin her journey as a professional cricketer early. Hayley would go on to become a member of West Indies team at age16.

“Hopefully she stays fit and healthy and keeps her head on. At least for the next twelve years I would think that this is going to be her career.

“She is only 18 now so she has a good set of years ahead of her. All Hayley wants to do is play cricket because it’s what she loves,” he said.

The father said Hayley who practices almost everyday with the team when she is in Barbados strives for excellence.

He explained that to get to this stage his daughter had to make a number of sacrifices, including putting her academic pursuits on pause while she focused on the sport.

“I told her to go and play cricket because that is what she will be doing. Once she is playing for West Indies team over the next good couple of years she will be travelling all the time.

“I can’t see her going in an office and working for nobody and then having to ask for time to tour and to practice. So she made a choice to play cricket and she can always come back and do her CXC,” he said.

The young sportswoman, who is also a gold medallist in the under-18 girls javelin in the CARIFTA games, secured a professional contract in the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League in Australia, playing for Hobart Hurricanes.

Her proud father, who plays cricket at the club level, said it was an honour for him to admit that Hayley had accomplished more in the sport that he had ever dreamt he could.

“She has played for the West Indies, I have never played for the West Indies. The most I have done was played for the Barbados under 19 team,” he said.

First Published In The Barbados Today.