West Indies Domestic: Lower order to the rescue

The depth and strength of Barbados' lower order were once again emphasised on the opening day of the 2000 Busta Cup yesterday.

More than once last season en route to their championship triumph, they gallantly fought back from uncomfortable positions and yesterday was no different.

During the first session, Guyana held the clear advantage on winning the toss with the impressive Colin Stuart and his new-ball partner Kevin Darlington combining to reduce the home team to 18 for three.

Among those gone were Barbados' two most experienced and prolific batsmen at this level, captain Philo Wallace and his predecessor Roland Holder.

There was hope of a recovery when Floyd Reifer and debutant Antonio Mayers were in, but neither carried on, and Barbados would still have been concerned when Reifer walked off the ground with the scoreboard reading 91 for five.

By the close, one of the biggest first day crowds at Kensington would have been satisfied with Barbados' 240 for eight.

That position was due mainly to one of the players who often featured in the lower-order revivals last season and two all-rounders making a return to first-class cricket.

Ryan Hurley, on his first appearance at this level since 1997, started the turnaround with a half-century that was filled with its fair share of entertainment as well as nerve-wracking moments when he flirted with danger.

When the 24-year-old wristy right-hander be-came the third victim to leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo 25 minutes after tea, Hendy Bryan joined Ian Bradshaw in an effort to salvage some useful late-order runs.

By the time they left when Bradshaw appeared to have been unlucky to be given out off the day's last ball, the Wanderers clubmates had added 96 precious runs in a record-equalling eighth-wicket partnership for Barbados.

Bryan, still remembered for his crucial 44 and 60 in last season's final, at times struck the ball with immense power that showed that he was better than his No. 9 position suggested.

He will resume this morning on 56 seeking to extend Barbados' total.

Bradshaw, typically level-headed, seemed likely to be there with him, but was ruled lbw to Darlington when many observers reckoned the left-handed batsman was struck about stump height.

The 25-year-old's 39 in his first match for Barbados since 1998 was a vital contribution. He too showed his mettle with a couple of authentic strokes.

The hosts ended the day in sheer contrast to the way they started when there was early moisture in the pitch and the threat of rain delayed the start by 21 minutes.

The first session produced only 39 runs, but there was a major improvement in the second that resulted in 99 runs - most of them coming from the stroke-making Hurley - and a further 102 in the final period.

Guyana could not have asked for a more ideal start.

Stuart, who promised so much as a young bowler before a series of injuries affected his career, removed both openers by way of first slip matches to Keith Semple.

The first was from a ball that moved away to find the edge of Wayne Blackman's bat, the debutant falling for a fifth-ball duck.

The second, on a defensive prod from Wallace, was snapped up inches off the ground.

Two runs later, Roland Holder, yet to get off the mark, attempted an ill-advised hook to his fifth ball. He miscued it completely and was caught at cover.

Mayers, another first-timer, batted with little bother for an hour but then missed a flighted ball from left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell and was bowled.

Reifer, watchful at the start, looked an accomplished player for his 37 that lasted a shade over two hours before he was caught at cover.