Best
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
BARBADOS' BOWLERS staged a grand fightback to gain the advantage over Guyana on the opening day of their Carib Beer Challenge semi-final at the Carlton Club yesterday.
Barbados managed to restrict the visitors to 211 after Guyana lost their way following an opening stand of 106 between Krishna Arjune and Sewnarine Chattergoon.
Barbados, with a new-look attack that featured the inclusion of Pedro Collins for the first time this season and fellow pacer Tino Best for only his second match of the competition, swung the course of the match in the latter half of the day in which Guyana's 10 wickets fell for 105.
Dwayne Smith, with his useful seamers, was the most successful bowler for Barbados with three for 17 from 13.1 overs, but both Collins and Best created a bigger impression.
Collins showed little effects of a stress fracture of the back that sidelined him for seven months to collect two for 30 in 19 overs, while Best, typically energetic and pacy, took two for 42 from 19 overs.
Off-spinner Ryan Austin, Barbados' leading wicket-taker this season, chipped in with two for 69 off 19 overs.
The quartet of bowlers brought Barbados back into contention after Arjune and Chattergoon, with the benefit of some luck, appeared to have ruined the hosts' decision to field first, with a century first wicket partnership.
Arjune made 55 off 119 balls that occupied exactly three hours, before falling to a low catch at gully by Ryan Hinds off left-armer Ian Bradshaw.
Arjune was dropped on 40 by Smith at short extra-cover off Collins and Chattergoon was put down earlier on 30 when wicketkeeper Patrick Browne missed a difficult chance, also off Collins.
The left-handed Chattergoon fell for 51 to a catch at slip after attempting to heave off-spinner Ryan Austin through the off-side after batting for three hours and 50 minutes in which time he faced 185 balls.
Barbados claimed another wicket just before tea when Collins was finally rewarded for his persistency with the wicket off teenager Steven Jacobs, who gave a catch to short extra-cover.
Arjune and Chattergoon took Guyana to 54 without loss at lunch, but by tea, at 131 for three, the decline had started.
Collins struck after tea by removing Narsingh Deonarine as the left-hander was bowled offering no stroke and Guyana continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Best got into the act by taking a good diving return catch that accounted for Travis Dowlin and he later removed Derwin Christian with a full length ball that won a lbw decision.
Smith assisted Barbados' cause by trapping Neil McGarrell lbw offering no stroke and wrapped up the innings with the final two wickets.
Throughout the slide, left-hander Assad Fudadin held firm for almost two hours for an unbeaten 18.
Barbados, who finished second in the Cup segment of the competition, omitted fast bowlers Corey Collymore and Jason Bennett, along with uncapped batsman Kirk Edwards from the squad of 14, while Guyana, third in the Cup, left out batsman Leon Johnson and off-spinner Imran Jaferally.
