Yvan Grant carried on his sparkling Twenty20 form with a half-century for the Barbados ‘A’ team on Wednesday in their comfortable 40-run victory against the Bermuda National Team.
Taking first knock in their opening encounter of the Bermuda Premier League at White Hill Field, Barbados reached 162 for eight in their 20 overs, after skipper Matthew Jones won the toss.
Seamer Shaquille Cumberbatch then took three wickets for 25 runs as Barbados restricted Bermuda to 122 for nine in 20 overs.
Right-hander Grant hit 53 from 45 balls to stabilise the innings in a healthy 78-run third-wicket partnership with Jonathan Drakes who scored 47 off 34.
After Barbados lost openers Leniko Boucher and Rashawn Worrell cheaply, Grant and the right-handed Jonathan Drakes took the score from 24 for two in five overs, to 102 for three in 15 overs.
Grant fell after his six fours and two sixes laid a platform for last-minute fireworks from wicket-keeper batsman Demetrius Richards, 19 off 10, and Amari Goodridge, 14 off 5.
Bermudian medium pacer Kamau Leverock, nephew of former West Indies and Barbados batsman Alvin Greenidge, bowled both Boucher, 12, and Richards, before Goodridge was caught by Malachi Jones.
Leverock’s three wickets for 27 runs preceded his top-score of 34 off 24 at the Bermuda top order. His knock included four fours and two sixes.
Cumberbatch featured in a run out, Delray Rawlins for seven, before intruding the lower order.
He caught and bowled Zeko Burgess for 26, before removing Derrick Brangman and Justin Pitcher, both caught by Zidane Clarke.
UWI opener Shaqkere Parris arrived yesterday evening, as a replacement for previously named captain Kraigg Brathwaite who has signed with English club Warwickshire for their four-game County Championship run-in. (RW)
Summarised scores
Barbados ‘A’ Team 162-8 in 20 overs (Yvan Grant 53, J. Drakes 47, D. Richards 19, A. Goodridge 14, L. Boucher 12; K. Leverock 3-27, Malachi Jones 2-38)
Bermuda National Team 122-9 in 20 overs (K. Leverock 34, Z. Burgess 26, D. Sabir 11, C. Trott 11, Malachi Jones 10; S. Cumberbatch 3-25)