West Indies: Busta Cup, Yearwood opens up option

Rondell Yearwood has given the Barbados cricket selectors another opening option.

With a shortage of openers - one was not given time off by his employers - wicket-keeper Yearwood was sent in first on Day 1 of the second Busta Cup trial match yesterday and responded with a solid half-century.

The 24-year-old's 61 off 181 balls was diligently compiled over four hours and it was the first half-century in trials by an opening batsman outside of captain Philo Wallace.

Roland Holder made the exact score as Yearwood, but his runs came in contrasting fashion, with plenty of strokes among his 11 fours off 136 balls.

They helped Ian Bradshaw's team to 241.

The experienced Dayne Maynard and unheralded Richard Morgan returned identical bowling figures: three for 39.

Maynard, seeking a recall after three years in the wilderness, removed Wayne Blackman and Ricky Hoyte in the space of four balls in an impressive new-ball burst.

He then came back later to dismiss Holder, who was bowled offering no stroke half-hour before tea.

On resumption, Morgan, a 20-year-old from the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme, struck three times in two overs.

Yearwood's defensive prod was breached first ball after the break; Courtney Browne edged a drive to the 'keeper in the same over and Horace Waldron steered a catch to second slip soon after.

Fifteen-year-old Kirk Edwards replaced Browne and rode his luck in an unbeaten 29 that included at least three chances.