Bajan bowlers take charge

For the first time this season, Barbados' bowling attack looked above ordinary. It was not devastating by any means, but the quality was such that it left the Windward Islands struggling at the close of Day 2 of their fifth-round Busta Cup match at Kensington Oval.

With the knowledge that anything fewer than maximum points would dent their chances of winning the Cup, Barbados effectively defended their first innings total of 267 by reducing the visitors to 103 for seven when stumps were drawn.

Barbados can put themselves in a position to force their second victory of the tournament if they can knock over the last two wickets this morning before the Windwards get another 15 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Windwards, still without a point this season, badly lost their way after their teenaged openers were separated an hour into the innings and never recovered against an attack that was mainly dominated by three bowlers.

Corey Collymore, Hendy Bryan and Dave Marshall shared the first 43 overs in which the Windwards lost the cream of their batting through mainly a lot of indecision and a few irresponsible shots.

The first of those was an attempted pull from the left-handed Devon Smith that was not kept down and resulted in a catch to mid-wicket.

For the 56 minutes Smith and Rommel Currency were together, the two played solidly before they fell to Marshall.

The Windwards have always been susceptible against leg-spin and Marshall would have been eager to get at them following his 12-wicket match haul against them in Dominica last year.

Skipper Ian Bradshaw brought him into the attack after only six overs and he responded with two strikes in the space of 25 minutes.

The second of those was from a googly that embarrassed Currency. The right-hander shouldered arms and, as usual, umpire Steve Bucknor, took his time before sending the batsman on his way.

In between the dismissals of the openers, Hendy Bryan removed the reputed shot-gun Kirsten Casimir with a delivery of fullish length which the batsman was guilty of playing across the line.

Windwards, who started their reply 25 minutes after lunch, went to the tea interval at 35 for three with the experienced Junior Murray and John Eugene at the crease.

They batted for a further 45 minutes before Collymore claimed two wickets in successive balls in an over which sent a buzz around the ground. Eugene edged a catch to the keeper after nibbling at a ball outside the off-stump without moving his feet.

Greg Wilson, on his debut first-class appearance, came out to replace Eugene, but the tall St. Lucian did not survive his first ball. It was of fullish length and it earned Collymore a LBW decision in the face of Wilson indicating the ball struck the bat.

The double-blow left the Windwards 58 for five and in need of a major partnership between Murray and his fellow Grenadian, captain Rawl Lewis.

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 Murray for 24. It was the sixth time for the competition that he was dismissed in either the 20s or the 30s.

The demise of Murray came in an exciting over from Bryan. Lewis had just spanked the bowler through the covers for a four and played an almost identical shot from the very next ball that was brilliantly intercepted by substitute Floyd Reifer.

Murray, the non-striker, might have believed the ball had gone past the fielder and ran the full length of the pitch to join Lewis at the striker's end. It was merely left to Bryan to complete the run-out at the bowler's end.

Until then, Barbados depended mainly on three bowlers and Bradshaw and off-spinner Ryan Austin came on late in the evening for three overs apiece.

It was enough for Bradshaw to claim the wicket of left-hander Deighton Butler, who cut a short ball down the throat of backward point.

Earlier, Barbados, resuming from their overnight 192 for six, added a further 75 before they were dismissed 15 minutes after lunch. Most of those runs came in a seventh-wicket stand of 45 between Bradshaw and Austin.

Austin, who played a key role in supporting Bradshaw with the bat in the last match, made 26 in an hour-and-a-half, while Bradshaw hit 37 before he was last out to a catch at long-on.

By then, Barbados were trying to push on in light of the fact that the scoring rate was just over two runs an over throughout the innings.