KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Opener Leniko Boucher stroked an attractive hundred to steer Barbados to the safety of a draw, in their opening three-day game of the Regional Under-19 Championship against Trinidad and Tobago here yesterday.
Under pressure after being forced to follow on 177 runs behind, Barbados ended the final day on 225 for five, with the right-handed Boucher leading the fightback with an excellent 119.
All told, Boucher faced 224 balls in a shade over 5-1/2 hours at the crease, and counted 11 fours and one six.
Unlike in the first innings, Barbados batted in partnerships with Boucher anchoring all of them before he was fifth out late in the day with the stalemate secure.
He posted 41 for the first wicket with first innings top-scorer Shian Brathwaite who made 15 and added a further 38 for the second wicket with Grant, who counted five fours in a 68-ball knock.
Boucher then spearheaded a key third wicket stand of 53 with Nicholas Kirton who made 14 and put on another 39 for the fourth wicket with Khalil Herbert who scored nine.
The partnership with Herbert all but made the game safe for Barbados as it nearly erased the deficit but Boucher kept going, and his 44-run stand for the fifth wicket with Deswin Currency (18), completed a day of frustration for the Trinidadians.
Fast bowler Jarlanie Seales led T&T’s attack with two for 32.
Earlier, Barbados were dismissed for 194 after resuming the final day on 171 for six, with off-spinner Jonathan Bootan finishing with five for 53 and left-arm spinner Bryan Boodram taking three for 43.
