Barbados' Ryan Austin. - fileCRAB HILL, Barbados (CMC:
A first-class career best bowling performance from Ryan Austin handed Barbados a modest first innings lead in their second round match of the Carib Beer Series against Leeward Islands yesterday.
Austin collected six wickets for 86 runs from 24.3 overs to completely justify the selectors' faith in him, after he had been overlooked for the opening match against Trinidad.
The 25-year-old off-spinner bowled with control, as Leewards were dismissed for 236, replying to Barbados' first innings total of 263.
When bad light stopped play two overs early on the second day at the North Stars Cultural & Social Club, Barbados were one without loss from a solitary over delivered by Adam Sanford.
"Obviously, I enjoyed it because I came with the mentality to get at least five wickets and I did it, so I am really proud of myself," Austin told reporters about his performance afterwards.
"The pitch was offering me some assistance after lunch, and all I had to do was put my head down, and bowl in the right areas. I bowled a bit straight at times, but I will work on this in the nets.
"I told the captain at lunch that I wanted a long spell to get my rhythm going, since I knew once I got into a good bowling rhythm, I knew I could get a bag of wickets, particularly knowing that the Leewards are a bit weak against the spin."
Similar to their opponents, the Leewards had several batsmen who got starts with the bat, but Steve Liburd was the only batsman that passed 50.
Liburd struck five fours and two sixes in the top score of 55 off 87 balls in two hours of batting.
Shane Jeffers scored 37, Leewards captain Sylvester Joseph made 35, Omari Banks got 30, and Tonito Willett gathered 24.
Dwayne Smith gave steady support to Austin with his medium-paced bowling, which claimed three wickets for 32 runs in 12 overs.
Leewards started confidently, but Austin removed Jeffers and fellow opener Javier Liburd and Shane Jeffers on his way to his fourth haul of five wickets or more in a first-class match.
He made the breakthrough, when he bowled Javier Liburd for 16, then had Jeffers caught at slip for 37 to leave the visitors on 62 for two.
Things however, did not always go entirely the way Austin and Barbados would have loved. The Leewards middle-order batsmen showed some signs of resistance, but they were all guilty of falling to a succession of ill-advised strokes.
Leewards reached 94 for two at lunch, and with Steve Liburd and Joseph at the crease, they appeared well set to put the Barbadian bowlers under pressure.
Joseph however, was caught behind off Smith about an hour after the interval fencing at a delivery outside the off-stump. The Leewards captain and Steve Liburd put on 85 for the second wicket.
About 10 minutes later, the Leewards suffered another setback to their plans, when Steve Liburd was adjudged lbw playing back and across to Smith to leave the visitors on 152 for four.
Tonito Willett came to the crease and with Omari Banks restored some stability and carried the Leewards to tea on 191 for four.
Austin however, opened the floodgates for Barbados, when he had Willett caught at deep mid-wicket, and Tino Best put another dent into the LeewardsÕ charge with a well-directed in-swinging yorker that bowled Banks.
Leewards were 208 for six, but Austin claimed three of the last four wickets that fell for 18 runs in the space of 38 balls to give Barbados the lead.
Jason Williams got six and Kerry Jeremy made four before they were both caught at mid-wicket chipping balls to fielder Tino Best off Austin, who ended the innings when Sanford was caught at backward short leg for a duck.
In between, Smith gained an outside edge to remove Carl Simon caught behind for a duck.
Barbados entered the match at the top of the standings with 12 points, following a three-wicket win in their opening match against Trinidad & Tobago at this venue.
Leewards were second in the standings with six points, after taking first innings points in their drawn opening match against Jamaica in St. Kitts.
