POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad (CMC):
TRINIDAD AND Tobago grabbed first innings honours, but Barbados staged a post-tea fightback to leave the 2005-06 Carib Beer Challenge final evenly poised on the third day at Guaracara Park yesterday.
After dismissing Barbados for 270 to gain a first innings lead of 70, Trinidad and Tobago struggled in their second turn at the crease to close on 137 for five - an overall lead of 207 ahead of the penultimate day.
Trinidad and Tobago, the Cup champions, lost their way badly after an opening stand of 45, suffering a collapse in which they lost five wickets for 54.
Barbados were helped by outstanding fielding that was responsible for two run outs and a sensational diving catch by wicketkeeper Patrick Browne who accounted for star batsman Brian Lara for 20 off Dwayne Smith.
QUICK RETURN
Browne also assisted in the run out of Jason Mohammed after a quick return by Wayne Blackman from mid-wicket and Smith also featured in instigating the run out of Lendl Simmons with a diving save in the covers for the bowler to effect the dismissal.
Trinidad and Tobago, who slumped to 99 for five, had the collapse halted by an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 38 between Richard Kelly (24 not out) and first innings century-maker Rayad Emrit (15 not out).
Captain Daren Ganga has been the topscorer so far with 26, but Trinidad and Tobago were without Dwayne Bravo who was being treated for a groin injury.
Barbados' fightback had started in the first phase of the day when they restricted Trinidad and Tobago's lead by batting through just until the scheduled tea interval.
PRODUCTIVE FIRST SESSION
Resuming on 130 for five in response to 340, Barbados enjoyed a productive first session, progressing to 211 for six at lunch.
Debutant Kirk Edwards, with an impressive 64, and wicket-keeper Browne, with a fighting 33, consolidated with a sixth wicket stand of 84 that gave Barbados a faint chance of first innings lead.
The stand was broken after an hour and 35 minutes when Browne was bowled by off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth after missing a defensive prod.
After the interval, Edwards went quickly, falling to an excellent, right-handed diving catch by substitute Sherwin Ganga at slip off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed.
The 21-year-old Edwards, a former West Indies Under-19 player who ended the 2005 Barbados club season with three centuries, batted for 197 minutes, faced 150 balls, struck 10 fours and won many admirers around the ground for the level of maturity he displayed in his first first-class match.
Ian Bradshaw (28) and Ryan Austin (28), who saved face for Barbados in the semi-final against Guyana with an eighth wicket partnership of 66, again offered resistance but Trinidad and Tobago managed to wrap up the innings without too much bother.
The left-handed Bradshaw gave pacer Mervyn Dillon his only wicket of the innings by flashing at a wide ball that he touched to the keeper, while Austin was bowled by fast medium Emrit, who finished with three for 34 off 11.2 overs.
Mohammed finished with thee for 56 in 24 overs to push his tally of wickets for the competition to 41, the most by any bowler.
