Devon Smith Stars as Batsmen Struggle
Fri, Jan 31, '03
Devon Smith proved why he is one of the best batsmen in the region on a day everybody else struggled in the Carib Beer Series game between the Windward islands and Barbados at Arnos Vale.
Thirteen wickets fell during the day for under 198 runs, and no other batsman than Smith passed 20. It was not a bad pitch, but on the slow side batsmen both had to have skills and patience -- the two attributes Smith showed on day one.
At the close Barbados were 42 for three in reply to the Windward Islands 156 all out.
The left arm opening pair of Deigthon Butler and Kenroy Peters reduced Barbados to 14 for three after poor Windwards batting and steady Barbadian bowling had conspired for a low hometeam total after skipper Rawl Lewis had won the toss and batted.
Once bowled out 35 minutes after tea, the islanders immediately struck back when Butler had Sherwin Campbell caught behind down the leg side by wicket keeper Junior Murray in the first over.
Soon afterwards Kurt Wilkinson drove at Bulter and a thick outside egde was brilliantly taken by captain Lewis in the gully.
With the score on 14 an uncertain Floyd Refier edged Peters to Murray.
At the close Philo Wallace, uncharacteristically sedate, was 12 not out, and Dwayne Smith, already the beneficiary of a life, was on 18.
The two have added a valuable 28 runs.
But the undoubted star of the day was Devon Smith whose 86 included eight fours and lasted 288 minutes and 219 balls before he was the ninth man out.
No other frontline Windwards batsmen reached double figures and it was left to the bowling all-rounders to chip in -- Orlanzo Jackson 18, Kenroy Peters 16 and Rawle Lewis, 11.
The batting specialists were all back in the pavilion before lunch undermined by an Ian Bradshaw second spell in which he took two wickets for three runs at one stage.
Bradshaw ended with three for 37 and was the initial destroyer, but Ryan Hurley took three for 56 from a marathon 34 overs and Suleiman Benn two for 36.
Given a bowl after 74 overs, pacer Antonio Thomas quickly wrapped up the innings with two wickets for no runs, including that of Smith (Devon) who was spectacularly caught in the gully by Floyd Reifer.
It was always going to be a difficult day for the Windwards after Smith and Rommel Currency (07) had added 39 encouraging runs for the first wicket in just over an hour of batting.
Once Currency went to be quickly followed by Kester Sylvester (01), Junior Murray (02) and John Eugene (00), the homesters were always in for a hard grind.
Smith and Currency started steadily before off spinner Ryan Hurley who replaced Bradshaw after he had bowled three overs for 14 runs, had Currency caught by Sherwin Campbell for seven.
By that time Bradshaw had been re-introduced for a second spell when he set out on his spell of destruction -- at one point taking three wickets for two runs.
He had Sylvester caught and bowled for one and then trapped Junior Murray and John Eugene trapped leg before off successive balls.
Smith had started well, back-driving Bradshaw for four in the first over for the day, and driving him for another spectacular off side shot in his third over.
But the Barbadians kept a tight rein for most of the morning as skipper Courtney Browne brought in the tight Hurley just when Smith and the Windwards were threatening to break lose.
The Grenadian test prospect was only beaten a couple of times after the first over when he seemed to have lost a little bit of concentration while the wickets tumbled around him.
But he survived the last 20 minutes before lunch in the company of his captain Rawl Lewis.
The Windward Islands was forced to introduce Darren Sammy for his first first class game after both Cameron Cuffy and Fernix Thomas were ruled out overnight because of injury.
Windwards: Lewis (captain), Smith, Currency, Sylvester, Murray, Eugene, Olanzo Jackson, Deighton Butler, Sammy, Kenroy Peters and Shane Shillingford.
Barbados: Brown (captain), Campbell, Philo Wallace, Kurt Wilkinson, Floyd Reifer, Dwayne Smith, Hurley, Bradshaw, Sulieman Benn, Antonio Thomas and Best.
* SOURCE: CaribUpdate.