CRAB HILL, Barbados, (CMC) - Tino Best lived up to his name and captured career-best figures to bowl double-crown holders Barbados to a commanding victory by an innings and 90 runs over Windward Islands inside three days in the second round match of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series at North Stars Cultural & Social Club yesterday.
Best bowled with pace, accuracy and hostility to capture seven wickets for 33 runs from 12.5 overs as Windwards, trailing Barbados by 182 runs on first innings, were bowled out for 92 in their second innings about 20 minutes after the lunch interval to give the home team their second straight win.
“I have been concentrating a lot more on hitting my targets and with the help of Wayne Daniel, the former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler, I am getting my action cleaned up,” said Best, who ended with match figures of 11 for 66 to earn the Man-of-the-Match award.
“Now that I am getting my action cleaned up, I am bowling the ball more and more over the top of off-stump. I feel I can now bowl faster for longer periods now that I am not burning up too much energy in my action.”
All-rounder Darren Sammy hit the top score of 35 for the Windwards and was supported by his captain Rawl Lewis with 23 and Craig Emmanuel with 20. Left-arm fast-medium bowler Pedro Collins took three for 21 from nine overs.
Two wickets apiece to Best and Collins sent Windwards crashing to 27 for six within the first half hour after the visitors continued from their bedtime position of 12 for two.
Barbados had early success when Orlanzo Jackson was adjudged lbw to Collins for two in the third over of the morning and Best followed up with the wicket of Junior Murray caught behind for one gloving a rip snorter.
Off the last ball of the next over, Lindon James was bowled by Collins for one on the backfoot, playing loosely at a ball moving back, before Emmanuel, who had shown much courage against the fire of Best, was caught at first slip off Best top-edging a hook.
Lewis and Sammy spent the next hour and 10 minutes building a stand of 55 for the seventh wicket that ensured the visitors would not fall for less than their lowest innings total against Barbados.
With his support bowlers not able to penetrate, Barbados captain Courtney Browne switched Best to the northern end for his second spell of the day. With his first delivery, the fast bowler forced Sammy into a half-hearted drive and he held a return catch to send him on his way for 35 containing one four and one six.
At lunch, Windwards were 84 for seven, but when Shane Shillingford was lbw to Best for one, ducking into a pitched-up delivery in the second over after the interval, it was only a matter of time before the end came for the visitors.
Barbados now move to a maximum 24 points from two matches following a 10-wicket victory over Guyana at Kensington Oval in the opening round, and Windwards have six after taking first innings points off Jamaica at Beausejour in the opening round.
Next round, Barbados face Jamaica at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, and Windward Islands meet Guyana at Botanical Gardens in Roseau, Dominica.
WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st innings 113
BARBADOS 1st innings 295
WINDWARD ISLANDS 2nd inning (o/n 12 for two)
D. Smith c Mayers b Best 0
R. Currency b Collins 2
C. Emmanuel c Benn b Best 20
O. Jackson lbw b Collins 2
+J. Murray c wkpr Browne b Best 1
L. James b Collins 1
R. Lewis c wkpr Browne b Best 23
D. Sammy c and b Best 35
S. Shillingford lbw b Best 1
F. Thomas not out 4
C. Cuffy lbw b Best 0
Extras: (lb-2, nb-1) 3
Total: (all out) 92
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-7, 3-19, 4-20, 5-21, 6-27, 7-82, 8-85, 9-92.