Bajan Cops show force down under

Defending champions Barbados sent an early warning to the other teams in the third International Police Cricket Tournament with two comprehensive wins in the opening matches.

On Monday they hammered English side Sussex by 148 runs, and yesterday had a six-wicket win over Metropolitan Police.

Drama unfolded against Metropolitan with the Bajan pacers getting a lot of life from the lively Fletcher Park pitch.

Ed Welch was struck on the forearm by a lifter from a rampaging Emmerson Sealy and while Welch was being treated in the pavilion, Tony Lovegrove was struck in the face by a sharp skipper Kenrick Marshall delivery.

Sealy, bowling with tremendous pace, snapped up three early wickets and Metropolitan fell for 76 off 39.3 overs. David Forde, the fifth bowler used, chipped in with three for nine off seven overs. Trevor Griffith, with an undefeated 22, topscored as Barbados replied with 77 for four off 25.4 overs.

The previous day Feliston Gilkes hit a disciplined 79 as the Bajans reached 208-7 off 45 overs. Then, thanks to some hostile bowling from their four-pronged pace attack, Barbados shot out their opponents for a meagre 60 off 35 overs.

Rudolph Clarke (38), Derwin Thompson (27) and Leslie Reifer (25) helped push the scoring along. Then Sealy (3-11) and Leroy Willoughby (3-15) ripped the heart out of the Sussex batting.