Colly Smokin'

Corey Collymore has silenced an entire country over the last week or so.

Written-off by cricket fans as past his best, Collymore's selection in the Barbados team was questioned since his return from the World Cup in South Africa.

The lion-hearted 25-year-old fast bowler from St Peter made everyone eat their words in the semifinals of the Carib Beer International Shield with a five-wicket haul against Trinidad and Tobago.

Collymore stepped up to the plate again yesterday when Barbados were struggling to dismantle the strong Jamaica batting side in the final. Back to his incisive best and delivering outswingers at will, Collymore prised out Test scalp Marlon Samuels and the dangerous Ricardo Powell in one probing spell yesterday morning that turned the match on its head.

He ended with five for 44 in 21 probing overs and stormed back late in the day to grab the wicket of Samuels for the second time in the match. It was proof that Collymore was really back with a bang.