B/dos batsmen stumble as T/dad takes honours

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Barbados squandered a great opportunity to make good progress on the opening day of their Regional Four-Day semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago here yesterday, when their batting faltered badly at Queen’s Park Oval.

Winning the toss and batting, the visitors finished the day on 208 for eight, after slipping from a strong position of 116 for two.

Jonathan Carter top-scored with 47, West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite got 44 while captain Kirk Edwards hit 37.

However, fit-again pacer Ravi Rampaul claimed three for 44 and left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh picked up three for 49, to send the innings into decline.

Brathwaite and opening partner Omar Phillips survived a lively opening burst from pacers Rampaul and Shannon Gabriel to post 42 for the first wicket.

The right-handed Brathwaite, who has been short of runs this season, faced 147 balls and struck four fours in an innings that spanned three hours and 17 minutes.