Bangladesh 'A' finally notch up a win in round six
Bangladesh ‘A’ almost blew their chance of registering their firstvictory in the Busta Cup, triumphing over Windward Islands in thesixth round by a slender margin of eight runs. But the visitors couldnot have espoused too many hopes of a win when, put in to bat, theymade only 163 in their first innings at St Vincent.But Naimur Rahman returned brilliant figures of 26.1-14-31-5 as hisside bowled out Windwards for 151, garnering a first-innings lead of12 runs. The batsmen, inspired, hit up 288 in their second innings,with Mazharul Haque making 90 and Tushar Imran 79. This set Windwardsa target of 301, and Junior Murray delivered many scares in making 125before falling as the final wicket with the score on 292. MosaddekHossain took five wickets this time around, helping Bangladesh ‘A’ tothe victory. Imran was picked as Man of the Match.At St Elizabeth, Jamaica, the hosts registered a comfortable sevenwicket win over Trinidad & Tobago. Put in to bat, the visitors madeonly 132 in their first innings, with skipper Richard Smith being thesole significant contributor with 64. Jamaica, in reply, piled up 298,with Robert Samuels making 65 and Gareth Breese scoring 83.The 166-run lead was too much for Trinidad & Tobago to handle; despitemaking 282 in their second innings, they could only set Jamaica atarget of 117. It took only 23.1 overs for Jamaica to knock off theruns, aided by a fine 62 from Chris Gayle at the top of the order.Breese was named Man of the Match.The batsmen dominated the match between Barbados and Leeward Islandsat Anguilla, with the match being drawn and Leewards picking up sixpoints. Batting first, Barbados posted 373, with Floyd Reifer making82, Philo Wallace 59, and Suleiman Benn 59. Despite Goldwyn Prince’sfive wickets for Leewards, it looked as if Barbados had the upper handat that point.But Stuart Williams, in splendid form throughout this tournament,finally carried out his threat of hitting a big one. Making 195 at thetop of the order, the Leewards skipper was assisted first by fellowopener Fabian Adams (68) and then by Runako Morton (61). Ridley Jacobsalso hit 51 further down the order, before Leewards were bowled outfor 502, Benn taking six wickets.Barbados’ reply was just as forbidding. Wallace hit another fifty, butthe star this time around was D Smith, who made 102 and, along withCourtney Browne (85) and Benn (61), made sure that his side did notcollapse to an innings defeat. Barbados ended the match on 381/9, Bennscooping the Man of the Match award ahead of Williams.Rain ruined what was potentially an exciting match at Albion, Guyana,with West Indies ‘B’ taking six points from the drawn encounter. Thevisitors made 415 after being put in to bat, Donovan Pagon making 110,and Roland Holder, Patrick Browne and A Sealy all making fifties. Thefirst innings was interrupted by rain as no play was possible at allon the second day.Guyana responded disastrously, bowled out for 216 and being forced tofollow on. But the second essay saw their batsmen do better. AzeemulHaniff made 51 and Lennox Cush an unbeaten 100; Guyana ended thefourth day on 190/3, but it would have been interesting to see whowould have won if the second day had not been rained out – West Indies’B’ on the strength of their first-innings total, or Guyana bowlinglast on the track. Pagon was named Man of the Match.