Brooks hits 96 but TT spinners put brakes on Bajans

Barbados Pride captain Shamarh Brooks struck a patient 96 and ex-West Indies limited-overs player Jonathan Carter contributed 72, but the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force spinners fought back at the end of the first day of their Regional Four-Day Tournament Seventh Round match yesterday.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Ground in Tarouba, the Pride closed the opening day on 267 runs for five wickets.

Off-spinner Bryan Charles claimed two wickets for 50 runs while left-arm spinner Ricky Jaipaul (1/46), leg-spinner Imran Khan (1/70) and left-arm pace bowler Daniel St Clair (1/48) had one wicket each.

The Pride, who decided to bat after winning the toss, got a decent start from the left-handed opening pair of Anthony Alleyne and Shayne Moseley before both were dismissed, pushing forward.

Moseley edged a ball from St Clair to wicket-keeper Amir Jangoo for 22 while Alleyne was trapped in front by Charles.

Brooks and Carter came together to push the score to 91/2 at lunch and, under sunny conditions, capitalised on a good pitch against the steady Red Force attack.

The pair added 112 runs during the afternoon session and looked totally comfortable until, out of the blue, Carter (143 balls, seven fours and a six) chipped a ball from Charles to Khan at mid-on.

His dismissal, with the scoreboard on 217, sparked a mini-collapse as two more wickets fell, for 17 runs, in the space of eight overs.

Brooks, who is also the West Indies “A” team captain, looked set to reach his first century of the season before he was trapped leg-before by Jaipaul, playing back to one that kept low.

His knock, off 199 deliveries, was decorated with 11 fours.

Kenroy Williams was puzzled by the challenge posed by Khan and Jaipaul, and his brief innings was ended when he was stumped off Khan for two.

The Pride were in trouble at 234/5 but former captain Kevin Stoute (29 off 76 balls) and Justin Greaves (16 off 64 balls) stayed patient until play ended exactly at 5 pm.

From their drawn encounter away to the Jamaica Scorpions, the Red Force brought in Jaipaul, Isaiah Rajah and Akeil Cooper for Khary Pierre, Yannic Cariah and Tion Webster.

The Pride, who also drew their last game against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, made one chance with all-rounder Shamar Springer coming in for pacer Keon Harding.