An indifferent performance by the Red Force led to the disappointment of thousands of fans at the Queen's Park Oval on Sunday, as they went down to Barbados by 28 runs in their first match of the Nagico Regional Super50 tournament.
Scores: Barbados 269/8 (45 overs) vs T&T 241 all out (48.2 overs)
A sloppy bowling effort enabled the visitors to tally an impressive 269 for eight off 45 overs, the locals found the going tough with the bat, as they were unable to forge meaningful partnerships to challenge the target. Lendl Simmons with 37 and Darren Bravo with an attractive 40 had the good crowd on hand looking forward to something special but it was not to be.
Darren Bravo fell to an injudicious pull shot for 40 after slamming Sullieman Benn for six. The tall, left arm orthodox spinner would end as the top bowler with 4/39.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, the run rate kept climbing and although Denesh Ramdin stroked 48 not out, the locals fell short. Pacer Jason Holder claimed 3/28 to ensure the Bajans record their win.
Earlier, Barbados won the toss and decided to have first use of a good batting strip. With rain affecting the start, the initial 45 minutes lost did not affect the number of overs. However, after the toss, rain came again and with the game finally getting off at 3.45 pm–it was reduced to 45 overs a side.
The Barbadians received a blow before the start as Kirk Edwards, one of their top batsmen, was sent home for reasons other than injury. The Bajans would not be able to replace him because of the nature of the situation involving his return to Barbados.
Dwayne Smith, a vastly improved cricketer since joining the international T20 caravan, lifted the spirits of his countrymen earlier on and Jonathan Carter would end brilliantly.
Smith lost fellow opener Kraigg Brathwaite to a beauty from Dwayne Bravo but took control to structure the innings.
T&T skipper, Bravo, give the very good crowd on hand their first cheer when he spread-eagled Brathwaite's stumps with the score on 26.
Smith found a good ally in Rashidi Boucher and they took the score past the 50-run mark. The right handed Smith played a number of powerful shots all around the park, which won the approval of even the home fans.
Boucher, who played domestic cricket in Trinidad, was never known to be a great player of spin bowling and with this knowledge Bravo brought in leg-spinner Imran Khan, who struck first ball. Boucher, on 13, played forward to a googly and was on his way.
Smith brought up his half century off 39 balls with eight fours and two sixes and Carter followed suit with his off 67 balls with six fours and a six.
The pair added 103 runs for the third wicket before Rayad Emrit, with a double strike, brought T&T right back into the game. He sent back Smith for 83 scored off 72 balls with and then accounted for skipper Kevin Stoute for a 'duck.'
Carter and the plucky Shane Dowrich combined for a wonderful partnership of 91 runs as the Barbadians continued to count the runs.
Carter brought up his second regional limited overs century in the process off 106 balls with seven fours and five sixes. He continued his impressive run against T&T as he got 61 against them last season.
Cooper finally got Carter for 109 and Dowrich 35 made as the Bajans closed on a healthy 269 for eight. Emrit ended with 4/50 off his nine overs.
SCOREBOARD
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T&T vs Barbados
Barbados inns
D Smith c DA Bravo b Emrit 83
K Brathwaite b Bravo 2
R Boucher lbw Khan 13
J Carter b Cooper 109
K Stoute b Emrit 0
S Dowrich c J Mohammed b Rampaul 35
C Brathwaite not out 9
A Nurse c Rampaul b Emrit 4
J Holder c Rampaul b Emrit 0
Extras 14
Total for 8 wkts (45ovs) 269
Fall of wkts: 26, 57, 160, 160, 251, 260, 268, 269.
Bowling: R Rampaul 9-0-65-1, D Bravo 8-0-31-1, I Khan 4-1-22-1, K Cooper 9-0-55-1, R Emrit 9-0-50-4, L Simmons 6-0-39-0.
T&T inns
Adrian Barath c R Boucher b J Holder 10
Evin Lewis c S Dowrich b J Holder 13
Lendl Simmons b S Benn 37
Darren Bravo b S Benn 40
Dwayne Bravo lbw b S Benn 16
Jason Mohammed c R Boucher b J Holder 32
Ravi Rampaul b S Benn 3
Denesh Ramdin+ not out 48
Kevon Cooper b C Brathwaite 2
Imran khan b D Smith 7
Rayad Emrit run out (D Smith) 6
Extras 0b 7lb 17w 3nb 0pen 27
Total all out 241 all out
Bowling: Fidel Edwards 6-0-42-0, Jason Holder 8-1-29-3, Carlos Brathwaite 7-0-35-1, Kevin Stoute 4-0-29-0, Sulieman Benn 9-1-39-4, Ashley Nurse 7-0-46-0, Dwayne Smith 2.3-0-14-1.
Result: Barbados won by 28 runs.