CRICKET WEST INDIES

Bridgetown, Barbados – Tino Best and Fidel Edwards bowled Barbados to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Sussex on Wednesday night to make it three wins out of three in the WICB’s Caribbean T20.

 

A vocal and colourful crowd of just under 7,000 left Kensington Oval happy as Best (3-11) and Edwards (3-18) both recorded career-best figures. The Bajans bowled out the visitors for 89 and then sped to 90-2 to remain top of Group B with 12 points. They also secured a spot in the Final Four to be contested on Saturday.

 

Best was named Star-of-the-Match but chose to praise Edwards who he described as an “inspiration”. He added that he is now looking to vary his pace instead of looking to break the 90 miles per hour barrier with every ball.

 

“My motivation came when I shared the ball with Fidel. For me it is a real big thing to run in and bowl with him at the other end or knowing that he is coming on to bowl after me. He helps to get me motivated. He was exceptional and we worked well together. Just the thought of bowling with someone at the other end who is just as quick and who can hustle and ruffle the batsman got me pumped up,” said the 29-year-old Best.

 

“The plan was to hit Sussex with pace on what was a good pitch for our kind of bowling. I’ve been doing a lot of net bowling with (bowling) coach Vasbert Drakes and that has helped. For me I’ve been a lot smarter. Before, I used to look to bowl at 90, 90, 90 (miles per hour) with every ball. The batsmen are being a lot more innovative in T20 cricket, so as a bowler I too have to be more innovation and clever in the way I approach my job.”

 

The Bajans have been ruthless this year and are yet to concede 100 runs. The results so far have been - Netherlands 73 all out off 20 overs (victory by 10 wickets); Jamaica 95 all out off 16.5 overs (victory by52 runs) and Sussex 89 all out off 18 overs (victory by eight wickets). Best acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to do to lift the trophy on Sunday night.

 

“I don’t think we have peaked as yet. I would say we are at about 65 percent. You saw some great cricket from us in Antigua and you saw another good performance here in front of our home fans. The way we are playing is as a good unit and we are confident going forward.”

 

The Caribbean T20 continues on Thursday at Kensington Oval with matches in Group A. Defending champions Trinidad & Tobago face Canada at 4 pm (3 pm Jamaica Time), while group leaders Windward Islands meet Guyana in a key encounter at 8 pm (7 pm Jamaica Time).