Barbados Pride seized the CG United Super50 Cup title in commanding fashion on Saturday, crushing Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by nine wickets at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando.
The visitors’ dominance began long before the chase, as left-arm duo Joshua Bishop and Dominic Drakes ripped through the home side’s batting line-up to lay the groundwork for a lopsided final.
Bishop struck immediately, justifying the decision to open with spin when he removed Cephas Cooper, stumped for a first-ball duck with the score on nine. Trinidad and Tobago briefly steadied through Amir Jangoo, who produced a few elegant strokes in his 20 off 27 balls before a miscued paddle against spinner Kemar Smith floated straight into wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher’s gloves.
From 75 for two, the innings lurched into freefall. Bishop accounted for Jason Mohammed for 12, then bowled opener Tion Webster for a well-compiled 43, plunging Red Force into trouble at 84 for four. Drakes followed with a dazzling sequence of his own, grabbing a brilliant return catch to dismiss captain Joshua Da Silva, then trapping both Navin Bidaisee and Jyd Goolie leg-before to tighten the noose at 130 for seven.
The resistance crumbled swiftly. Bishop closed with 4-27, Drakes with 4-34, and Red Force were bundled out for a modest 168 in 42.3 overs.
Mayers and Boucher launch a ruthless reply
Needing only 169, Pride captain Kyle Mayers and Boucher produced an onslaught that turned the chase into a procession. They began cautiously, managing just four runs in the opening two overs, but the tempo changed dramatically thereafter.
Mayers ignited the charge by hammering Terrance Hinds for two fours and a six in the third over. Boucher joined the assault moments later, carving Ricky Jaipaul for consecutive boundaries. By the time the pair plundered 31 runs off Joshua James and Goolie across the eighth and ninth overs, the Pride were racing at 74 without loss.
The milestones arrived in quick succession. Mayers reached his 10th List A half-century off just 36 balls, launching Goolie for back-to-back sixes to end the 13th over and push the score to 103 without loss. One ball later, Boucher completed his own sixth List A fifty, turning Yannic Cariah to mid-on for a sharp single.
Boucher falls, but Mayers marches the Pride home
Mayers continued unfazed, introducing new bowler Bidaisee to the contest with two more sixes and a driven four in the 15th over. Boucher’s stay ended soon after: dropped moments earlier at midwicket, he then drove Hinds straight to Joshua James at mid-off, departing for an enterprising run-a-ball 50 that featured nine fours and a six. The breakthrough arrived with the Pride in total command at 122 for one.
A brief rain interruption slowed proceedings but not Barbados’ momentum. Mayers, unmoved and unbothered, was joined by Zachary McCaskie, who played the anchor role with an unbeaten 19 off 48 balls. Together, they saw their side home without further scare, sealing the title at 169 for one in only 29.3 overs and triggering exuberant celebrations in the Pride camp.
Mayers finished with a sparkling 89 not out from 79 deliveries, an innings brimming with seven sixes and six fours, a fitting captain’s performance on a championship afternoon.
