‘Five-fors’ for four spinners on rain-hit first day of BCA Elite division

Bridgetown, Barbados, August 12 – (www.barbadoscricket.org) – Spin bowlers dominated play on a rain-hit opening day of Series 1 in the 2023 BCA Elite division three-day Championship with four grabbing five-wicket hauls.

With not a ball bowled because of wet conditions in two matches of the ten-team competition, the three sides batting first were all dismissed for under 170.

At Desmond Haynes Oval: Eighteen wickets tumbled for 274 runs as defending champions Wildey gained ascendency over Carlton.

After winning the toss, Wildey were bowled out for 167 in 43.5 overs.

Left-handed opener Demetrius Richards celebrated his inclusion in the Barbados 13-man ‘A’ squad for a Twenty-20 Festival in Bermuda next month by hitting the top-score of 75 off the same number of balls in just over two hours. He struck six fours and four sixes.

Richards’ opening partner Shanaldo Taylor, also a left-hander, contributed 29 and Barbados Under-19 team all-rounder Jaden Leacock, 28.

Taylor was the leading run-getter in last year’s Championship with 556 (Ave: 50.54).

He and Richards added 69 for the first wicket and after passing 100 with only two wickets down, Wildey lost their last eight wickets for 64 runs.

Improving off-spinner Dante Niles grabbed five for 71 off 18 overs including the scalps of Taylor and Richards after coming on as first change bowler.

Rookie leg-spinner Zuhair Jada picked up two for eight off 1.5 overs and experienced off-spinner Alex Bridgeman, two for 19 off six overs.

Carlton reached 107 for eight off 29 overs at stumps as seasoned left-arm spinner Steve Pinder snatched five for 46 off 11 overs, while off-spinner Tariq O’Neale has two for 37 off ten overs.

Leniko Boucher scored 42 off 47 balls in 44 minutes with three fours and one six at No. 4.

At Rices: Empire captain and left-arm spinner Camarie Boyce took five for 53 off 14.1 overs and 18-year-old off-spinner Kobe Williams supported with four for 63 off 13 overs as BWU/Super Blend Gladiola were dismissed for 168 in 39.4 overs after losing the toss.

There were two half-century partnerships at the top and bottom.

Left-hander Shomario Depeiza and all-rounder Kemar Harte put on 55 in 11 overs for the first wicket before Harte was caught at long-on by Shaquille Cumberbatch off Boyce for 39.

Depeiza next fell for 20, holing out to long-off in Yekini Miller off Williams.

Effectively, the home side lost nine wickets for 63 runs in 17.1 overs as they limped to 118 for nine at tea following rain 13 minutes before the scheduled break.

Hopes of Empire then quickly wrapping up the innings were frustrated by all-rounder and former West Indies Under-19 captain Giovonte Depeiza and Korie Miller, who put on 50 in 11.3 overs for the last wicket.

Giovonte Depeiza, who like his cousin Shomario hails from the northern parish of St. Lucy, top-scored with 48 not out off 62 balls in 93 minutes at No. 5. He struck three threes and the same number of fours.

Miller’s contribution was 16.

Empire will resume next Saturday on 25 for one.

At 3Ws Oval: UWI leg-spinner Javed Leacock took five wickets and off-spinner Romario Graves supported with four as Fusionz Boutique Spartan suffered a sensational collapse in falling for 121 in 42.5 overs.

After losing the toss, Spartan reached 60 with only one wicket down before Leacock, introduced as the fifth of six bowlers, triggered the slump by removing Nicholas Carter for 23.

The experienced Marrodon Bend top-scored with 51 off 99 balls in 142 minutes. He struck one four and three sixes before becoming one of Leacock’s victims, sixth out with the score 111.

Effectively, Spartan lost their last nine wickets for 61 runs including the last five for 10 runs.

The wily Leacock took five for 29 off 14 overs and Greaves, four for 24 off 7.5 overs.

UWI closed on 43 for one off 13 overs with Shaqkere Parris unbeaten on 32.

At Lester Vaughan, Cane Garden: Play between SigniaGlobe Financial Inc. BCA Youth and newcomers IGS Insurance Brokers Yorkshire was abandoned at 3 p.m.

At Dayrells Road: There was an abandonment of play at 3.10 p.m with Wanderers opposing neighbours Bayview Hospital YMPC.

(See summarised scores).