Pride crush ICC Americas for second win

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Pride effortlessly notched their second win of the Regional Super50 after spinners Ashley Nurse and Sulieman Benn combined to destroy ICC Americas and set up an eight-wicket victory here yesterday.

Off-spinner Nurse captured four for 26 and left-armer Benn claimed three for 20 as ICC Americas were bundled out for a paltry 103 off 34.2 overs at 3Ws Oval.

Bermudian opener Kamau Leverock top-scored with 21 but was the only batsman to pass 15 and just one of four in double figures.

Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite then extended his recent rich vein of form with an unbeaten 42 as Pride strolled to their target off 29 overs.

He faced 86 balls and counted four fours, putting on 49 for the first wicket with left-hander Anthony Alleyne who struck 27 from 34 balls with two fours and a six.

When Alleyne and Shai Hope (6) fell in the space of 20 balls to leave Pride on 64 for two in the 17th over, Brathwaite added a further 41 in an unbroken third wicket stand with left-hander Jonathan Carter who finished on 24 not out.

Opting to bat first, ICC Americas made a decent enough start when Leverock and Srimantha Wijeyeratne (13) posted 30 off 42 balls for the opening stand.

But once fast bowler Kemar Roach (2-32) had Leverock caught at the wicket, the innings quickly unravelled as wickets fell steadily.

Tottering at 61 for six, Timroy Allen (13) and Akeem Dodson (8) tried to bail the innings out with a 23-run stand but those hopes were dashed when Benn had Dodson stumped in the 28th over.