Date-stamped : 13 Feb94 - 14:27 England v Barbados, Barbados, 10-13 Feb 94 ====> Day 1, 10 Feb 94 England fast bowler Devon Malcolm captured five wickets but Barbados`s batsmen handed out some heavy punishment at Kensington Oval on Thursday. Malcolm took five for 93 but also conceded more than five runs an over as Barbados sped to 289 for six at the close on the first day of the four-day match. Opener Philo Wallace made a quick-fire 57, the elegant Sherwin Campbell underlined his promise with 83 and captain Roland Holder hit the top score of 85. Barbados hammered 121 runs in the last session, but the loss of two quick wickets late in the day and an earlier tight spell of left-arm spin by Phil Tufnell helped to stop them charging away with the game. A double strike by Malcolm reduced the Barbadians from 179 for two to 187 for four, and the Derbyshire paceman and Alan Iggles- den subsequently snapped up two wickets for four runs just before the close. England, having lost the toss, made a deceptively good start when Malcolm dispatched Desmond Haynes for six with the total 14, the test opener snicking an outswinger to Graham Thorpe at first slip in the day`s fifth over. But Wallace, who hammered eight fours and a six to complete his half-century off just 47 balls, featured in a second-wicket stand of 82 with Campbell and Barba- dos went to lunch on 90 for one. Wallace was dropped on eight at second slip by Graeme Hick off Igglesden, and made the most of his good fortune. He twice struck Igglesden for two fours in one over and also punished paceman Angus Fraser for two fours in an over before posting his 50 with a pull over long leg for six off Fraser. Campbell, with three centuries in this season`s Red Stripe Cup, was missed on 16 by captain Mike Atherton in the gully off Fraser. However, he blossomed in the second session with a series of exciting shots, mostly well-timed drives through extra cover or cover. Campbell`s innings was spiced with 12 fours and a hooked six over long leg off Malcolm, whose second delivery after tea proved the batsman`s downfall. He tried to pull and edged the ball into his stumps. Campbell, who with Holder put on 83 for the third wicket, was soon followed by Livingstone Puckerin. He made just six before flicking Malcolm straight into Robin Smith`s hands at short back- ward square. Holder was joined by Courtney Browne (41) and they added 98 for the fifth wicket before both fell just before the close. (REUTER) Contributed by Chico Khan (ckhan@bbn.com) ====> Day 2, 11 Feb 94 Devon Malcolm took seven wickets as England bowled out Barbados for 348 and only poor fielding prevented him from taking more. Malcolm who was aiming for a career best eight wicket haul saw five catches dropped as he tried to dismiss the final two wick- ets. He ended with figures 7-134 but will no doubt be disap- pointed as the Barbados tail end held on. Angus Fraser who dropped two of the easiest catches finally brought the innings to an end when he had Sam Skeete caught behind. Contributed by goo-chie (jdw5@*.ukc.ac.uk) ====> Day 2, MORE England fast bowler Devon Malcolm captured seven Barbados wickets to signal a warning on Friday to West Indies ahead of the test series - but his figures could have been even better. England's butter-fingered fielders put down a total of nine catches, five of them off Malcolm's bowling, as Barbados reached 348 in their first innings. By the close of the second day of the four-day match, England had replied with 144 for two, primarily thanks to their openers with Alec Stewart scoring 47 and captain Mike Ath- erton 71 not out. Malcolm had already taken five wickets in Barbados's overnight 289 for six and he quickly snapped up two more when play resumed. An hour's interruption because of rain held up England's hopes of rapidly finishing off the home side's innings but their own poor catching made matters worse. With seamer Alan Igglesden also taking a wicket, Barbados were reduced to 299 for nine but a frustrating last wicket partnership of 49 between Sam Skeete (34) and Dayne Maynard (17 not out) held them up. An amazing total of six catches were put down with the last-wicket pair at the crease before paceman Angus Fraser had Skeete caught behind by Jack Russell. Malcolm ended with seven for 134 off 26 overs. Atherton and Stewart made a solid reply, adding 87 for the first wicket before Stwert was bowled by an inswinger from Vasbert Drakes. Mark Ramprakash, seeking a place in the test line-up, struggled for an hour for six runs before snicking an outswinger from Ottis Gibson to wicketkeeper Courtney Browne. Fraser, com- ing in as nightwatchman, prevented any further damage and was six not out at the close. (Reuter) Contributed by chico (ckhan@bbn.com) ====> Day 3, 12 Feb 94 England skipper Mike Atherton made a disciplined century to warm up for next weekend's First Test but Graeme Hick failed once again. Atherton maintained a high level of concentration throughout his 108 knock but Hick edged to slip for 20 and has not impressed selectors. His Test place hopes remain good though with middle order rivals Nasser Hussain, Matthew Maynard and Gra- ham Thorpe also in poor form. England were dismissed for 302 and Barbados resume with a lead of 46. Contributed by goo-chie (jdw5@*.ukc.ac.uk) ====> Day 3, MORE England captain Mike Atherton warmed up for the first test against West Indies next week with a painstaking century against Barbados on Saturday. But there was no such joy for the enigmat- ic Graeme Hick. Needing a sizeable score to clinch a place in the test side, Hick fell for 20 to the last ball before tea when he edged seamer Ottis Gibson to Sherwin Campbell at second slip. His only significant score in five innings in the Caribbean was the 111 he made in the opening match against an Antigua X1 comprisingly mainly part-time players. Atherton anchored the England innings for almost six hours as they made 302 on a rain-shortened third day in reply to Barbados`s first innings 348. An all too familiar collapse saw the touring team lose their last seven wickets for 56 runs. Ath- erton faced 254 balls and struck 14 fours before being bowled by left-arm spinner Winston Reid. "I wouldn`t say I`m playing bril- liantly," Atherton said. "But I`ve made at least 50 in three of our four matches so that`s one less worry for me as captain." He and Robin Smith put on 97 for the fourth wicket after England, resuming at 144-2, had lost nightwatchman Angus Fraser with only five runs added. Smith, cutting and pulling with authority, reached 50 in 114 minutes with seven fours. But the cut shot eventually proved his downfall, Reid trapping him leg before for 59. The frailty of the middle order is England`s big worry as they head towards the serious business of the tour -- Wednesday`s opening one-day international in Bridgetown and the first test in Kingston beginning on Saturday. Graham Thorpe, like Hick, failed to impress again. He had made just 16 when he fended at a rising ball from Vasbert Drakes and was caught at slip. Gibson was the pick of the bowlers with 5-87. He and Drakes were forced into more work than they might have anticipated as seamer Sam Skeete was sidelined all day with a sore left instep. The day`s fourth heavy shower -- just before Barbados began their second innings -- ended play early. (Reuter) Contributed by chico (ckhan@bbn.com) ====> Day 4, 13 Feb 94 Desmond Haynes failed for the second time in four days as England drew their match with Barbados. The veteran West Indies opener dismissed for six by Devon Malcolm in the first innings made only two the second time around. Haynes fell to Alan Igglesden's third delivery to give England a useful psychological edge with the first Test starting on Saturday. Robin Smith and Mark Ram- prakash made the most of 90 minutes batting practice to put an unbroken opening stand of 48 before the close. Contributed by goo-chie (jdw5@*.ukc.ac.uk) ====> Day 4, MORE Alan Igglesden gave England's anxious cricket selectors some en- couragement just three days before Wednesday's first one-day international against the West Indies. With Angus Fraser (frac- tured left hand) and Andrew Caddick (shin soreness) both doubtful for the opening match in a five-game series, the tourist's bowl- ing resources look stretched. But Igglesden, with a seven-over burst which brought 2 for 13 on the last day of the drawn match with Barbados, showed he is ready to step into the side. After the home side resumed with a first innings lead of 46, Igglesden bowled Desmond Haynes with his third ball of the morning, the veteran opener making perhaps his last appearance for the Island side before retiring. And six overs later, he trapped Philo Wallace lbw. Sherwin Campbell (54) with his second half-century of the match, and captain Roland Holder (43) then steadied matters with a stand of 77 -- Campbell hitting seven fours in a 138-ball in- nings. Graeme Hick and Phil Tufnell then reduced Barbados to 130 for 5 but Courtney Browne and Vasbert Drakes added 62 before a tea-time declaration. Robin Smith (25) and Mark Ramprakash (21) then got in some valuable batting practice as Enland played out time. Contributed by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@*Sun.COM)