Wallace whoops it up

After experiencing a disappointing 2001 Busta Cup season, former Barbados captain Philo Wallace is hoping to finish the year in contrasting fashion by achieving two major goals.

The hard-hitting right-hander, who turned 31 last month, told Sunsport he is aiming to help Big B Spartan lift the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 title, in addition to doing well in the Red Stripe Bowl regional limited-overs tournament, if he is selected.

Yesterday, he warmed up for both tasks with a chanceless century for Spartan against Caribbean Lumber YMPC.

I am using this season to try and get Spartan into a winning position, if not to win the Division 1 competition, and help develop the young cricketers we have at the club, Wallace said yesterday.

At Big B Spartan, we have a very young side. We only have two guys over 30 Livingstone Puckerin and myself and all the others are under 25; so a lot of the responsibility is on me and Puckerin. I decided today I would carry the baton and I did.

Wallace's century an unbeaten 107 was the feature of an otherwise bleak day where the first two hours and 35 minutes were lost to rain. His innings lasted 205 minutes and included 13 threes and five fours.

I am very pleased with the innings, Wallace said. I have been training very hard for the last couple of weeks under the guidance of Henderson Springer and Andrew Callender and Mr Griffith from the BDF, so it is paying off.

The former West Indies opener hinted he was not focussed heavily on the Red Stripe Bowl at the moment, though he was making the necessary preparation.

You have to be selected to go to the Bowl and I don't have a play so I have to work hard. Right now, I am working hard for my club and I am enjoying it, Wallace explained.

If selected, we will go to Guyana and I will look to do well for my country.

Wallace and Wayne Blackman gave Spartan a solid start after YMPC were asked to bat, when play finally started 35 minutes after lunch.

The duo posted 101, with the attractive Blackman scoring 49 before being bowled by off-spinner William Lashley with the third ball of his third over.

When Corey Yearwood fell cheaply for one, Wallace added 28 with captain Puckerin before the former Barbados wicket-keeper /batsman was dismissed for eight, with Spartan placed at 140 for three. Young Dion Lovell (12) added 49 with Wallace to carry Spartan to 189, before Spartan lost their next three wickets for just 11 runs.

Lashley, who took two wickets in his 16th over, finished with three for 44 while Powlett grabbed three for 62.

Prediction: Spartan to gain first innings lead.