Barbados Pride are just four wickets away from sealing a dominant victory in their day/night West Indies Championship contest as West Indies Academy continue to struggle under relentless pressure heading into Saturday’s final day at Kensington Oval.
After amassing a mammoth 581-9 declared, the Pride bowlers, led by the sensational Chaim Holder (6-70) and Jomel Warrican (2-57), skittled out the Academy for 239 in their first innings early on Friday. Forced to follow on 342 runs behind, the Academy once again found themselves in deep trouble at 211-6, still trailing by 131 runs.
At the crease, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (71) and Zishan Motara (0) are the last recognized batting hopes for the Academy as they look to delay the inevitable on the final day.
Resuming their first innings at 111-3, the Academy would have hoped for a strong start, but Holder wasted no time in tightening his grip.
Jediah Blades, who started the day on one, managed only a single before he was trapped in front by the fiery Holder. Soon after, Rivaldo Clarke, who had been holding firm on 69 overnight, fell for 78, caught off Holder to leave the score at 127-5.
The floodgates opened from there, as the Academy lost four wickets for just 29 runs—Bowen-Tuckett (9), Mavendra Dindyal (11), Motara (3), and Johann Layne (0)—leaving them teetering at 156-9.
A spirited 83-run last-wicket stand between Joshua Bishop (57 not out) and McKenny Clarke (30 off 20 balls) briefly lifted the Academy’s spirits, but the deficit was too great, and they were bundled out for 239, still well short of avoiding the follow-on.
Forced to bat again, the Academy needed a much-improved performance, but the Pride bowlers remained relentless.
Their top order once again faltered, as Ackeem Auguste (32), Justin Jagessar (6), and Rivaldo Clarke (10) perished with just 99 runs on the board.
Captain Teddy Bishop produced a fighting knock of 58 off 98 balls, laced with eight boundaries. However, his resistance ended at a crucial juncture when he and Dindyal (0) both fell to Ramon Simmonds, leaving the Academy struggling at 121-5.
The Pride would have hoped to finish the job before stumps, but a gritty 87-run partnership between Bowen-Tuckett (71) and Joshua Bishop (28) delayed their celebrations. Bishop’s dismissal, bowled by Warrican shortly before the close of play, was a crucial breakthrough, as it left the Pride just four wickets away from a much-needed victory following their opening loss.