Openers Shayne Moseley and Kraigg Brathwaite hit unbeaten half-centuries to put Barbados Pride firmly in control of their Digicel Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day contest against Jamaica Scorpions at Kensington Oval yesterday.
When bad light ended play with four overs still to be bowled, the home side had reached 147 without loss, an overall lead of 327. Moseley, who scored 79 in the first innings, is within sight of a century, not out on 87, while West Indies opener Brathwaite has so far scored an even 50.
Earlier, after the start of play was delayed for 18 minutes by rain, the Scorpions, resuming on 93 for three in reply to the Pride’s 427, folded for 247. They trailed by 180 runs but Barbados opted not to enforce the follow-on.
Chadwick Walton, who started the day on 26, batted fluently to reach his half-century, but his overnight partner Paul Palmer fell cheaply when he edged a delivery from pacer Justin Greaves to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, having scored only two.
Fabian Allen was run out by a brilliant bit of fielding by Keon Harding, whose direct hit at the striker’s end from mid-off punished Allen following an ill-advised attempt at a single.
Walton and Rovman Powell lifted the visitors from an uncomfortable 115 for five in an enterprising counter-attacking partnership of 68. Powell swept Jomel Warrican (3-34) square and into the Greenidge & Haynes Stand for six. In the same over he launched the left-arm spinner over long-on for another six.
Walton struck left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes over mid-wicket for six. To his credit Pride captain Shamarh Brooks did not concede by resorting to defensive fields and his confidence in his bowlers paid dividends when off-spinner Roston Chase (2-34) had Walton caught by his captain at leg-slip. Walton made 72. He batted for 160 minutes, faced 82 deliveries, striking a six and 13 fours.
Powell also fell before lunch, caught by Greaves at straight mid-wicket off Chase for 43. He batted 66 minutes and faced 47 balls. His innings included two sixes and six fours.
By lunch the Scorpions had reached 200 for seven, with Derval Green on 15 and Nikita Miller yet to score. Warrican picked up the last three wickets on either side of a rain break that caused three overs to be deducted and a revised close of play time of 6 p.m.
By tea Barbados Pride had cruised to 33 without loss and the final session featured an authoritative display led by the aggressive Moseley.
Moseley played a powerful straight drive for four off Miller. He swept the same bowler to backward square for another boundary and swept John Campbell forward of square for six. Brathwaite tickled Campbell to fine-leg for a boundary and as the shadows lengthened Moseley stroked off-spinner Campbell between extra-cover and long-off for a sweetly executed boundary.
Moseley’s 50 came off 95 balls in 96 minutes with six fours while Brathwaite reached his just before the close off 91 balls in 142 minutes. He has so far struck five boundaries.
Moseley has been at the crease for 155 minutes and has faced 153 balls. The left-hander has so far hit a six and ten fours.