Pride deserved Super50 title - Holder
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC):
Captain Jason Holder has praised the Barbados Pride bowling unit, after they played a key role in helping the side lift the Regional Super50 title here Saturday night.
Defending 272 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Pride held Jamaica Scorpions to 212 all out in the 45th over, to come away with a strong 59-run victory.
Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn spearheaded the attack with three for 33 from his 10 overs, while seamers Holder (2-28), Carlos Brathwaite (2-43) and Kemar Roach (2-54) all claimed two wickets each.
Off-spinner Ashley Nurse, who finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 26 scalps, managed just one wicket but was instrumental throughout.
"Our bowlers were outstanding all tournament long, led by Ashley, I thought he was outstanding," Holder said.
"Credit must be given to the entire bowling department and also our fielders. I thought we held our catches and put in a clinical effort."
SUPER ATTACKING
Holder produced a superb attacking innings in helping to set up Pride's win, hammering an explosive 47-ball 69 to propel his side to 271 for nine off their 50 overs.
He put on a 127-run, sixth wicket stand with Shai Hope, who carved out 101 from 98 deliveries, to post his second straight hundred following his 125 in the semi-final against Leeward Islands Hurricanes last Thursday.
Pride were languishing at 138 for five in the 35th over when Holder and Hope joined forces, and the West Indies Test and one-day skipper said the partnership had been a crucial one in reviving the innings.
Hope finished with 482 runs, Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite scored 484 while Holder gathered 213 runs and also picked up 18 wickets.
Holder said Pride had been the best side throughout the tournament and deserved the success.
"I thought the guys were very, very consistent all tournament long, we put in the performance needed to win this final and I don't think a better team could have come up and won this final so congrats to the Barbados Pride team and everyone who would have contributed to this."
Scoreboard
PRIDE
K Brathwaite b Jacobs 22
K Stoute c Jacobs b Miller 41
+S Hope run out 101
J Carter c Powell b Campbell 8
R Chase c Jacobs b Sewell 7
S Dowrich c & b Campbell 6
*J Holder c Blackwood b Powell 69
C Brathwaite b Leveridge 0
A Nurse not out 2
S Benn b Powell 1
K Roach not out 0
Extras (b1, lb2, w10, nb1) 14
TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs) 271
Fall of wickets: 1-59 (K Brathwaite), 2-85 (Stoute), 3-102 (Carter), 4-120 (Chase), 5-138 (Dowrich), 6-265 (Holder), 7-267 (C Brathwaite), 8-269 (Hope), 9-271 (Benn)
Bowling: Taylor 6-1-50-0- (w1, nb1), Leveridge 6-0-37-1 (w3), Campbell 10-0-35-2 (w3), Miller 9-0-48-1 (w1), Jacobs 6-0-31-1, Sewell 10-0-40-1 (w2), Powell 3-0-27-2.
SCORPIONS
+C Walton c K Brathwaite b Benn 26
S Taylor c C Brathwaite b Roach 9
J Blackwood b Roach 7
A McCarthy lbw b Benn 30
J Campbell c wkp Hope b Nurse 2
D Sewell c Carter b Benn 6
D Jacobs b C Brathwaite 28
R Powell c Holder b C Brathwaite 65
J Taylor c Carter b Holder 23
*N Miller lbw b Holder 6
R Leveridge not out 0
Extras (lb1, w8, nb1) 10
TOTAL (all out; 44.3 overs) 212
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Taylor), 2-26 (Blackwood), 3-69 (Walton), 4-74 (Campbell), 5-78 (McCarthy), 6-107 (Sewell), 7-122 (Jacobs), 8-181 (Taylor), 9-212 (Miller), 10-212 (Powell)
Bowling: Roach 8-0-54-2 (w1, nb1), Holder 9-0-28-2 (w1), Benn 10-2-33-3, C Brathwaite 6.3-0-43-2, Nurse 10-1-42-1 (w4), K Brathwaite 1-0-11-0.
Result: Pride won by 59 runs.
Series: Pride win 2017 Regional Super50.
Man-of-the-Match: Shai Hope.
Toss: Pride.