BRIDGETOWN, CMC:
BARBADOS SWIFTLY demolished the Lee-ward Islands by seven wickets inside three days of the key sixth round Carib Beer Series 2003 match yesterday to romp to an unprecedented 18th regional first-class title with a game to spare.
On a sensational morning during which rain curtailed play by 25 minutes, the Leewards crashed from an overnight 94 for four to 98 all out in 35 balls as fast bowling pair Tino Best and Ian Bradshaw went on the rampage.
Best ended with four for 26 to push his tally of wickets for the season to 28, while Bradshaw picked up two for 26 -- a match haul of six for 89 -- and 25 wickets so far as the Leewards survived for just 37 minutes.
Set 57 for victory, Courtney Browne's team triumphed in 12 overs -- 22 minutes before lunch.
It was Barbados' fourth victory of the season with all four completed within three days as they cruised to 60 points, leaving pre-round second placed Leewards on 34 points.
While Browne pointed to a well-prepared and experienced unit for his team's success, Leewards' team manager Elquemedo Willett said he was "stunned" by the incredible batting collapse.
SCOREBOARD
Leewards 1st innings 249
Barbados 1st innings 291
Leeward Islands 2nd innings
(overnight 94 for 4):
A.Adams b Smith 22
J.Mitchum lbw b Benn 11
S.Joseph c Thomas b Smith 8
I.Tittle c Hinds b Best 26
S.Williams c Hurley b Benn 13
O.Banks c wk Browne b Bradshaw 3
C.Simon b Bradshaw 2
+G.Matthew b Best 0
A.Sanford lbw b Best 1
G.Tonge b Best 0
K.Jeremy not out 0
Extras (b8, lb2, nb2) 12
TOTAL (all out, 34.5 overs) 98
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-52, 3-52, 4-74, 5-94, 6-95, 7-96, 8-98, 9-98.
Bowling: Bradshaw 9.5-2-20-2 (nb1), Best 8-1-26-4 (nb1), Smith 9-4-16-2,
Benn 6-1-23-2, Hurley 2-0-3-0.
Barbados 2nd Innings:
P.Wallace b Simon 5
S.Campbell lbw b Simon 15
R.Thomas c Tonge b Sanford 1
R.Hinds not out 14
F.Reifer not out 8
Extras (b4, lb10) 14
TOTAL (3 wickets - 12 overs) 57
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-26, 3-28.
Bowling: Tonge 2-0-18-0, Simon 5-2-10-2, Sanford 3-1-10-1, Banks 1-0-4-0, Mitchum 1-0-1-0.
Result: Barbados won by 7 wickets
Points: Barbados 12, Leewards 0
Man of the match: Stuart Williams (Leewards)
Umpires: Eddie Nicholls (Guyana), Anthony Farrell (Barbados)
Match referee: Clifford Clarke.
Toss: Barbados.
