ST JOHN'S, Antigua - (CMC) - Dwayne Smith savaged the Guyana bowling attack in a relentless display of power-hitting, to fire Barbados to a morale-boosting eight-wicket win in their Zone B Red Stripe Bowl match yesterday at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
Smith blasted an unbeaten 92 from just 70 balls, laced with nine sixes and three fours, as Barbados cantered to 194 for two from 34.4 overs in reply to Guyana's 191 for nine from their 50 overs.
The tall strongly built 20-year-old executed an array of shots that saw the ball sailing out the ground and on to the roof of the stands. He shared a match-winning 100-run partnership with Sherwin Campbell who made 62 from 93 balls with seven fours.
Smith and Campbell took the Barbadians from 57 for one following the dismissal of opener Dale Richards (31,) to 157 for two when the latter was caught driving to Ryan Ramdass on the cover boundary off Mahendra Nagamootoo.
Smith, who accelerated to his 50 from 43 balls with three fours and four sixes, scored 42 of the remaining 47 runs as he ended the game with successive sixes of left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell who ended with one for 53 from nine overs.
When the bowlers pitched short, Smith swathed them away disdainfully, either with a pull or sweep and when they bowled into the slot they were powerfully driven.
The limited Guyana attack had no answer to Smith's display and his only chance was when Ramnaresh Sarwan held onto a catch on the long-on fence but stepped over the rope before releasing the ball.
GUYANA INNINGS
The batsmen performed just as poorly as the bowlers, as Guyana slumped to 78 for five with their key batsmen, captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul (16) and Sarwan (8) back in the pavilion.
It took middle-order batsman Lennox Cush (46), a late cameo from last man Esuan Crandon (31) and 28 by opener Sewnarine Chattergoon to give the score some respectability.
Crandon's 31 from 33 balls included a six and three fours and he shared in an undefeated last-wicket stand of 50 with wicketkeeper Vishal Nagamootoo who made 22.
Pacers Corey Collymore (2-38) and Pedro Collins (2-45) were among the wickets, while the fielders backed up well with two run-outs.
With the win, Barbados moved back into contention for a semi-final berth as they share the lead with Guyana on nine points, one more than second-placed Antigua and Barbuda who play the University of the West Indies today.