Brathwaite, Wickham centuries pile misery on Scorpions

Day three of the West Indies Championship match at Sabina Park belonged entirely to the Barbados Pride, as captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Kevin Wickham carved magnificent centuries to steer their side past Jamaica Scorpions’ first-innings total of 457 and to a slender but commanding lead.

When stumps were finally drawn minutes to 6 pm yesterday, the Pride closed on 460 for 5, thanks to some enterprising batting.

Resuming on 125 for 1, with Brathwaite unbeaten on 51 and Jonathan Drakes on 17, the Pride batted with resolute discipline on a pitch that had flattened into a batsman’s paradise.

The Jamaican bowlers toiled without luck for most of the day, their efforts undone by a placid surface that offered little seam or spin.

Like his captain on the opening day, Drakes brought up his half-century off just 54 balls, laced with eight fours and two sixes.

He looked intent on getting a big score until the first drinks break.

At 181 for 1, with Brathwaite on 68 and Drakes 54, the brief interval seemed to break the concentration.

Immediately on resumption, Drakes holed out to Brad Barnes off the bowling of Abhijai Mansingh for 55.

Lunch arrived with Barbados comfortable at 239 for 2, Brathwaite nudging toward a century on 98, and the inform Wickham settling on 26.

After the interval, Brathwaite duly raised his hundred off 201 balls, a typically patient knock featuring 12 fours and a six.

Wickham followed suit, reaching his 50 off 99 deliveries as the Pride marched to 331 for 2 at tea, Brathwaite on 128 and Wickham, 78.

A brief rain shower interrupted play with the score at 341 for 2, but the break did nothing to cool the batsmen.

Wickham brought up his century off 166 balls, striking 11 fours and a six. It was his third consecutive century in the competition and his fifth in a row dating back to the trial games in Barbados.

Brathwaite, immovable as ever, reached 150 with 16 fours and one six.

Barbados raised 400 in the 101st over, and just when Jamaica seemed powerless, a breakthrough came.

Wickham, who had added 195 runs for the third wicket with his captain, was caught at leg slip off the bowling of Peat Salmon for a brilliant 105.

Roston Chase came and went in a flurry, hitting a few streaky fours and a six before he, too, fell to Salmon, caught in the deep by Carlos Brown for 16.

But the heart of the innings remained Brathwaite. The Barbados skipper batted a monumental 510 minutes before finally departing late in the day, bowled by Peat Salmon for 176. His marathon knock consumed 343 balls and included 19 fours and a six.

At stumps, Barbados Pride had reached 460 for 5, securing first-innings honours and leading by three runs with five wickets still in hand. Kyle Mayers is not out 16, and Leniko Boucher 12.

Peat Salmon was the pick of the Jamaican bowlers, returning figures of 4 for 99, but his effort was a lone hand on a day when the bat once again dominated the ball.