The leg-spin of Javed Leacock proved too good for Jamaica Scorpions, as he secured career-best figures of 4-43 to lead Barbados Pride to a 47-run win in their CG United Super50 Cup contest at the Frank Worrell Field in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.
Batting first, Shamarh Brooks (69) and Shai Hope (65) both posted half-centuries in leading Barbados Pride to 259, after which Leacock’s skill with the ball trumped a brisk 94 from Jamaica Scorpions wicketkeeper/batsman Chadwick Walton and condemned the reigning champions to a second consecutive defeat.
Walton smashed six fours and six maximums in his 112-ball knock with Jeavor Royal contributing a 34-ball 44, while Jermaine Blackwood made a patient 30 off 49 balls in the Scorpions failed attempt to overhaul their target on this occasion.
In their opening contest against Leeward Islands Hurricanes, they lost by eight wickets after posting a paltry total.
Blackwood, West Indies Test vice-captain, had four boundaries in his knock, while Royal had four sixes and one four in his late flurry.
Leacock, playing only his sixth List A match, required only eight overs to do the damage, as he accounted for Walton, captain Rovman Powell (0), Shalome Powell (0) and Fabian Allen (2).
Left-arm pacer Dominic Drakes (2-14) and Roston Chase (2-37) took out the Scorpions middle order.
Earlier, the Pride, last year’s beaten semi-finalists, had a slight stutter at the start, as they lost opener Kyle Mayers (1) with just four runs on the board.
However, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Brooks steadied the innings with an 88-run stand, before the former fell for a 78-ball 45, which included two boundaries.
Brooks, who had three fours and one six in his 89-ball knock, formed another partnership worth 88 runs with West Indies One-day International captain Hope, whose 76-ball innings included four fours and one six.
There was another stutter after both fell, but Drakes hammered two fours and three sixes in 18-ball cameo to end unbeaten on 40 and, more importantly, saw Pride to what turned out to be a winning target.
Parnell had 2-33, and Gordon 2-41 for the Scorpions.
The tournament continues with a double-header on Saturday when Leeward Islands face West Indies Academy at Queen’s Park Oval and Guyana Harpy Eagles meet Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in a day-night contest.
The games are scheduled to begin at 09:00h and 13:00h respectively. (Sportsmax)
