Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - SportTHE SABINA Park pitch, recently known as the place where runs go to die, turned into a batting banquet table as Jamaica recorded a 21-run victory over Barbados in a high-scoring, key Zone A Red Stripe Bowl match-up at the Kingston venue yesterday.
When the batsmen of both sides had finished flailing the little white orb to all parts of the ground, Jamaica's massive total of 307 for five proved a little too much for Barbados as they slogged their way to 284 for seven off 47 overs - three overs and a massive slice of the lunch break being deducted for their tedious over rate.
The victory gave Jamaica the top seeding from the zone and they will now meet Trinidad and Tobago in a semi-final encounter at Kaiser on Thursday.
Having won the toss, Jamaica skipper Robert Samuels wasted little time sending his side in and Test opener Chris Gayle even less getting stuck into the Barbadian attack.
Gayle belted six fours and a six (into the Havoline sign in the North Stand next to the Press Box) on his way to a 47-ball 49. When he was dismissed in the 15th over, he and Leon Garrick had already put on 80 runs and given Jamaica a tremendous platform for a huge score.
The rest of the order did not let them down. Diminutive Garrick went on to top score with 74 (7x4), first drop Wavell Hinds scored 58 (4x4, 1x6), Marlon Samuels struck a quick-fire 40 (2x4, 2x6) and Ricardo Powell was undefeated on 29 (3x4, 1x6) against a wilting attack which conceded 38 extras, 33 of them wides and no balls.
If there was a pick of the eight Barbadian bowlers used, it was, by default, part-timer Kurt Wilkinson who claimed two wickets for 28 in a not-too-tight four overs.
With only 47 overs to reach the target, Barbados set off in a hurry with Philo Wallace in typically belligerent form. The former Test opener pounded Darren Powell out of the attack and advanced to 44 before holing out to Ricardo Powell at deep mid-wicket in spinner Gareth Breese's first over after an 81-run liaison with Wilkinson.
Spin did the trick for Jamaica as Gayle, in his first over, dispensed with Wilkinson for 39 to make it 100 for two and, despite impressive flurries from Ryan Hinds (44), Sulieman Benn (21), Floyd Reifer (72) and a late cameo from Vasbert Drakes (26), the Barbados side was always drifting away from the required run rate.
Spinners Gayle (2-46), Gareth Breese (2-46) and Ricardo Powell (3-56) claimed the wickets.
Captain Samuels believes his side is striking form at the right time and should be primed for its encounter with Zone B runners-up Trinidad and Tobago.
"Everything went right for us batting wise," Samuels said. "It was the best batting wicket I've have seen out there in a very long time.
"The spinners turned it around for us but at Kaiser it will be a different pitch and different situation ... it was very important for us to win all the games and we have done that.
"We have been improving each game, we need everything coming together but it's all looking very, very good," he said.
