Barbados: Police In Close Battle (22 November 1998)

22 November 1998

Barbados: Police In Close Battle

by Haydn Gill

Cricket matches between Police and Big B Spartan have always produced tight contests and yesterday was no different.

On a day in which neither side was able to gain a significant advantage at any period, the sweet-stroking Stanton Proverbs and the lion-hearted Dave Marshall spearheaded their team's efforts on either side of tea.

Proverbs, celebrating his recall to national trials, was at his best before the break, reaching a half-century at better than a run-a-ball.

By then, the championship leaders had reached 124 for three and recovering from the uncomfortable 53 for three after winning the toss in perfect conditions.

Any thoughts of capitalising on that encouraging base were wiped out by the ebullient Marshall, who was rewarded for his perseverance with a haul of five wickets. On taking a return catch that ended the innings, he hurled the ball high into the air.

It ended Spartan's fightback in which they were able to capture the last seven wickets for 75.

The lawmen were guilty of aiding in their demise after the break. With the exception of Alvin Campbell, who went by the run-out route, the others fell trying to attack the spin of Marshall and Aaron Barker.

Even before Stanton Proverbs had made his entry, his younger brother Ahmed was also playing with plenty of command and had cracked 32 off 27 balls before losing his off stump in spectacular fashion to Dexter Toppin.

Toppin and Hattian Graham shared the first 17 overs in which the pacy Graham trapped the unconvincing Feliston Gilkes lbw and had the flatfooted Rudolph Clarke snicking a catch to the 'keeper.

Police were then 53 for three, but Proverbs, who smashed five off-side boundaries in a matter of a few balls and the reliable Derwin Thompson consolidated with a fourth wickets stand of 78.

The partnership was broken in the first over after tea when Thompson missed a drive against Marshall and was bowled for 26.

Marshall kept plugging away and he enjoyed his finest moment when Proverbs, in attempting to swing him through the off-side, provided a catch to mid-wicket.

Proverbs, whose 584 runs has now made him the season's leading run-scorer, batted for 2 1/2 hours, faced 116 balls and struck 11 fours and two sixes.

BANKS, strugglers this season, found their range yesterday - against the schoolboys.

And Banks are heading for what looks like an early victory today as the students struggled on an under-prepared wicket, and on an outfield that was far too heavy. The students were sent in and surrendered to the pace Orson Rowe, with five for 31 and Joseph Williams, four for nine.

Big left-arm pacer Dwayne Burke and Ryan Best then produced the fastest spells of the day.

Burke got the ball to lift steeply as the southern end and grabbed four for nine off four menacing overs. The 16-year-old Best, back from injury, extended himself fully and sent down four fiery, but wicketless overs.

Captain Hendy Bryan hit an unbeaten half century as Wanderers kept Pickwick toiling in the field all day.

After some early success in claiming the first three Wanderers wickets for 48 runs, the Pickwick bowling somehow lost its edge as the visitors steadily repaired the damage.

Bryan dominated the post-tea session in scoring a stroke-filled 62 as he shared an important unfinished sixth wicket partnership of 84 with left-hander Corey Glasgow (34 not out).

CHIC Schools North 171-9 v BCL
Mount Gay Maple 164, United Carlton 1-1.
BNB St. Catherine's 152-9 dec'd, ICB Empire 26-1.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)