Bajans rebound from shaky start

AFTER the unwelcome delay on the first-ever day of cricket at the island's newest first-class ground, Barbados and Jamaica exchanged punches in two competitive hours of play at the North Stars Club.

Jamaica threw the first blows, dispatching Sherwin Campbell and Philo Wallace inside the first 15 minutes, but Barbados recovered somewhat through the efforts of Kurt Wilkinson, Floyd Reifer and Ryan Hinds at the lovely Crab Hill, St Lucy ground.

At seven for two, there was potential danger for the Carib Beer Series front-runners, but a close of play total of 89 for three reflected a position of even-stevens after they were sent in by the defending Cup champions.

The most significant feature for Barbados was Wilkinson's emergence from a string of three successive single-digits scores.

Maintained at No. 3, even with the return of Ryan Hinds, Wilkinson batted solidy for an unbeaten 32 that included five fours off 78 balls.

In his company at the end of a day that was marred by the inadequate pitch covering that delayed the start until 3:40 p.m., was in-form Floyd Reifer, the pair set to resume their fourth-wicket stand of 40 at 9:30 a.m. today.

The start of play for each of the last three days has been brought forward by half-hour to make up for the lost time on the opening day when only 28 of the 90 overs were delivered.

The left-handed Reifer, who is unbeaten on 21, joined Wilkinson after Hinds' promising innings of 23 came to an end with a disappointing stroke.

Just back from the World Cup because of reasons that are well known, Hinds looked to be in fine touch when he on-drove fast bowler Darren Powell for successive boundaries.

Dave Bernard, an improving all-rounder who has been one of Jamaica's outstanding players this season, then induced him into edging a catch to the keeper after he replaced Rose at the northern end.

It was the second catch of the evening for Hibbert, who had earlier swooped low to his right to brilliantly haul in Wallace inches off the turf to give Rose his first wicket on his return to the team after he was surprisingly dropped for the last match.

In the previous over, Barbados lost Sherwin Campbell for a duck, his edged drive taken by Gareth Breese at second slip after Mario Ventura at third slip muffed the initial offering.