da 888： Barbados (196 & 249) beat Trinidad and Tobago (283 & 161) by onerun
Haydn Gill07-Feb-2000Port-Of-Spain – The heart-beats were as rapid as the rhythms of theCarnival 2000 road march contenders.The sweat was running down the arm-pits profusely; the fingernailswere being bitten by the second.Such was the intensity of the moment yesterday.And yes, Tante Merle returned to the Queen’s Park Oval 25 years afterher first appearance when there was a similarly heart-stopping matchthat ended with team scores being equal.This time, victory was accomplished by Barbados by the narrowest ofmargins (one run) amidst unbearable tension at 5:25 p.m. with 12 oversremaining.The emotions were far-ranging throughout the final, pulsating hour.One minute the 3 500 spectators were in a frenzy as their championBrian Lara was leading the charge in pursuit of what appeared to be acomfortable victory.The next they were completely stunned when Hendy Bryan knocked backthe stumps of Marlon Black to complete a sensational collapse in whichthe last five wickets fell for 20 and the last seven for 45.When Black missed his irresponsible swing Bryan, unable to contain hisemotions, ran all the way to the long-off boundary with ecstaticteam-mates in pursuit. When he realised he could go no further, hedropped to the turf and his partners, including reserves Floyd Reiferand Sulieman Benn, huddled together before taking a lap of honour.Just the ball before, Barbados were crestfallen after their umpteenthappeal for a lbw decision was turned down, resulting in four leg-byesbeing credited to Trinidad and Tobago.Barbados knew fully well that defeat could have eliminated them fromthe Busta Cup depending on the results of the other two finalpreliminary round matches which end today.They now await their opponents in the semifinals, but their 48 pointsshould give them a spot in the top two and the right to host thatsemi.’The guys worked very hard in the latter stages of the game,’ managerTony Howard said after Barbados’ first victory in Trinidad since 1990and their first at the Queen’s Park Oval since 1983.’We had some long talks. Some serious pointed issues were raised andthe guys got it together. They went out there and demonstrated that.’This was a team effort. Everybody knew what they had to do.’With Lara beginning to play with increasing command, only diehardBarbadian supporters would have given their team a chance withTrinidad and Tobago on 141 for five in search of a winning target of163.Lara was one short of his 50, but his inclination to pull againstleft-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins caused his downfall.His shot was miscued and captain Philo Wallace gleefully accepted thecatch at mid-on. It was the third time in three innings that Collinshad claimed Lara.’One of the main turning points was when I got out,’ Lara admitted.’I thought that I needed to keep scoring. I felt that we had enoughwickets in hand to get it, but Barbados bowled well.’Even before Lara’s dismissal, Bryan started the fightback with twowickets in successive balls.One was Richard Smith to a catch inches off the ground by SherwinCampbell at first slip, and the other was first innings hero KenoMason, lbw pushing uncertainly forward.Bryan lost some control in the dying stages and gave up four wides.By then Wallace had also turned to Ryan Hurley’s off-breaks to relievethe hard-working Collins who also removed openers Daren Ganga andImran Jan.The little man came up big.Rodney Sooklal, swinging across, was palpably lbw, and Mervyn Dillon,essaying a sweep, was bowled behind his back to leave Trinidad andTobago 156 for nine.The ball before, there was poor judgement on the part of DinanathRamnarine after the left-hander, who had somehow survived for an hour,was run out attempting a non-existent second run.Collins and Bryan each finished with three wickets. Hurley had two,and the under-used Dave Marshall came up with the important wicket ofthe dangerous Denis Rampersad.Marshall’s diving return catch accounted for the No. 3 batsman, whomade 34, in the last over before tea and ended a second-wicket standof 50. The other batsman in that stand, Ganga, made 30 before edging adrive off Collins to first slip.No one would have predicted what was to follow.