WI Local, Busta Cup: Browne bomber

Oh my, it was awesome, simply awesome!

Courtney Browne has probably never played with such conviction, authority and confidence and will probably never ever do so again in his lifetime.

And yet again, Barbados had to call on their reliable lower order to pull them around from potential peril to bring them within heartbeats of first innings points in their second round Busta Cup match against the Leeward Islands.

For four and three-quarter enthralling hours yesterday, Browne reeled off a succession of fascinating strokes in an unbeaten 98 that sent a partisan Kensington Oval crowd of close to 5 000 into a state a frenzied celebration.

If he was not driving through extra-cover with the timing and perfection of a Lawrence Rowe, he was ruthlessly despatching short balls with the power of a Viv Richards.

If he was not square-driving with plenty of assurance, he was sweeping with just as much command.

And when everyone thought the Barbados wicketkeeper would pack up shop and return today to complete a memorable maiden regional hundred and guide Barbados to the lead, Browne had other ideas in the dying stages.

He opted to attempt one of cricket?s dangerous shots, a sweep off an orthodox left-arm spinner and the ball landed a couple yards beyond Curtly Ambrose on the deep backward square-leg boundary and onto the Kensington Stand.

That was not enough and the fourth ball of the day?s penultimate over was splendidly hoisted over mid-wicket to bring up his fourth six. Such was the confidence, if not arrogance, of the man.

His unbeaten 98 off 134 balls also included seven fours, most of which were driven though a packed off-side.

His most destructive shot, however, was a rare pull off the front foot against the previously troublesome Carl Tuckett that sailed out of the ground in a jiffy.

Having passed his previous best of 78 at this level, the 29-year-old Browne, in his tenth regional season, returns this morning to attain his third first-class century (the other two were made for the West Indies on the 1995 tour of England) in his 81st match.

Browne?s effort capped off another remarkable comeback from Barbados who were reduced to 95 for five an hour before tea.

Captain Philo Wallace, Roland Holder and Floyd Reifer were all gone and Browne was left with the all-rounders and the bowlers to fight a tall order.

Hendy Bryan and Ian Bradshaw, two batting heroes in the opening match, once again came to the rescue, both making 30 in crucial half-century stands with their stroke-making partner.

Ambrose and Tuckett were spot on with the new ball.

Unheralded opener Wayne Blackman was pinned down and needed 22 balls and half-hour before scoring his first run in first-class cricket.

Blackman, however, could not survive until lunch. The ball came off the inside edge and went into the stumps.

Wallace, fresh from a hundred off Guyana, was once more playing with some enterprising strokes when Ambrose bowled him with a ball of fullish length.