BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — A high-quality century by captain Kraigg Brathwaite steered Barbados Pride into a powerful position against Windward Islands Volcanoes on the second day of their sixth-round match here yesterday.
The right-handed Test opener carved out 117 – his 15th first class century – in an excellent show of classy stroke-play and concentration, as the home side ended on 272 for two on a placid surface at Kensington Oval.
They take a small first-innings lead of 22 into today’s third day, after dismissing the visitors for 250 on the opening day.
Brathwaite shared a magnificent 168-run, second-wicket partnership with West Indies teammate Shai Hope, who closed on a superb 98 not out.
They came together when Kyle Corbin, who made 38 and put on 93 for the first wicket with Brathwaite, attempted a sweep but got an inside edge and was snapped up behind by Andre Fletcher off off-spinner and captain Liam Sebastien on the stroke of lunch. The right-handed Corbin struck three fours and two sixes off 83 balls in nearly two hours at the crease.
Brathwaite and Hope then dominated the next two sessions, allowing Pride to take control of the encounter.
The 23-year-old Brathwaite counted eight fours and a huge six over long-on off off-spinner Shane Shillingford, while facing 271 balls in a shade over 5 3/4 hours at the crease. Hope, also a right-hander, stroked eight fours off 187 deliveries in an innings lasting just over four hours.
The highlight of Hope’s innings was his dominance against spin and his ability to score off the slow bowlers and manipulate the field.
For Brathwaite, it was his seventh century at regional level and he reached 3,000 runs for Barbados and 6,000 overall in his career. He raised his landmark late in the day with a quick single into the off-side.
Brathwaite survived a tough chance when he was dropped by Fletcher on 109, looking to cut.
He eventually fell late in the day to a lazy stroke off part-time medium-pacer Johnson Charles, caught at the wicket as he tried to run a ball to third man.
