On Wednesday 23, '23, the young boys of Barbados cricket achieved a respectable score of 213 in 76.4 overs against Windward Islands on the first day of the opening series of the West Indies Rising Stars Under-17 two-day championship. Windwards trailed by 186 runs after reaching 27 without loss in 11 overs at the close of play.
Batting starters Gadson Bowens and Jaden Webster combined for 57, while Reviera Cottle and Joshua Branch carved out a 56-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Cottle scored high with 35 off 67 balls, including four boundaries against bowler Khan Elcock, the pick of Windwards’ bowling attack with three for 23. The other scalps included Kyron King for a no hitter, and Zishan Motara, also for nil. Elcock found bowling support from Kirt Murray who took three for 36.
Earlier, Bowens hit 31 from 73 balls, sprinkled with two fours, before he was run out by Joel Durand. The left-handed Bowens combined with Webster for a 57-run partnership for the second wicket which seemingly laid a foundation for Barbados.
Number 11 batsman Dre Springer defied Windwards with 30 in 50 balls, including three boundaries, in partnership with Jatario Prescod in a 47-run stand for the tenth-wicket.
Barbadian bowlers – pacers Prescod and Kyron King, as well as leg-spinner Zishan Motara – have all sent down three overs, while off-spinner Xaundre Baptiste bowled two overs.
Summarised scores:
- Barbados 213 in 76.4 overs
- R. Cottle 35
- G. Bowens 31
- D. Springer 30
- J. Webster 19
- A. McCollin 19
- J. Prescod 16
- J. Branch 13
- E. Currency-Barnett 12
- K. Elcock 3-23
- K. Murray 3-36
- Windward Islands 27-0. (RW)
