Two-time defending champions Barbados Pride were dealt a demoralising setback in the West Indies Championship on Saturday, when pacer Niall Smith produced a destructive spell to undermine their batting and bowled Guyana Harpy Eagles to a comprehensive 183-run win.
Smith grabbed 5-31 from 10 overs, and the Pride, chasing 278 to win, were bowled out for a paltry 94 in their second innings shortly before tea on the final day of their first-round match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
It was the third lowest total for Pride against the Harpy Eagles in the modern era of the Championship (1966 onwards) – but nowhere near their record lowest.
Only three Pride batsmen reached double figures – newcomer Jonathan Drakes, batting at three, led the way with 36, pacer Akeem Jordan, batting at eight, made 20, and Test batsman Shamar Brooks added 12.
The rest of the batting caved to disciplined, if not menacing bowling from the Harpy Eagles with pacer Ronsford Beaton ending with 2-11 from eight overs, and Test left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul taking 2-18 from eight overs.
The result meant the Harpy Eagles start the tournament with a bag of 18 points, and the Pride limp away with only three.
In the second round, starting on Wednesday – Harpy Eagles face Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada, and Pride meet Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Earlier, Harpy Eagles added 35 to their overnight total before they declared their second innings inside the first hour on 126 for nine.
Permaul made 33, adding 22 to his overnight score, and Smith, not out on 12, provided a stable partner in a frustrating ninth wicket stand of 36 before off-spinner Chaim Holder bowled the left-arm spinner to prompt the declaration.
Pride endured an early setback when left-handed opener Shayne Moseley was caught behind for a duck off Smith in the second over, and they were wobbling on nine for two when pacer Shamar Joseph trapped Zachary McCaskie lbw for four in the next over.
Pride were 11 for two at lunch, and Beaton and Permaul combined to carve up their middle order, ensuring there was to be no comeback story.
After Brooks defied with Drakes for an hour, Beaton had him caught at gully, and triggered a slump in which four wickets fell for eight in the span of 28 balls – including the scalps of Nicholas Kirton, Shamar Springer, and Pride captain Shane Dowrich, all for ducks.
Smith returned to clean up the tail and formalised the result when he got Keon Harding caught at gully for seven, and two balls later, he bowled newcomer Jair McAllister for four.
-CMC
