Two tall men on opposite sides, both with the distinguished record of performing outstandingly in Barbados/Windward Islands matches, held sway at Kensington Oval yesterday.

Adrian Griffith, a 6ft 3in left-handed opening batsman, anchored Barbados' innings with a steady, if chancy 93.

Casper Davis, a gangling 6ft 5in fast bowler from St. Vincent, captured four wickets in an inspired effort on his first appearance for the Windward Islands since his suspension late last season.

Spoils

At the end of the first day in the teams' Busta Cup opener, neither side can claim an advantage. When rain brought a premature end with 18.2 overs remaining, Barbados' total of 213 for seven was an indication that the spoils were shared.

On a day in which the scoreboard featured the rare occurrence of the first five batsmen falling for either 11 or 12, the left-handed Griffith bore the brunt of the batting responsibility after Barbados were sent in.

It was not the type of stroke-filled innings like his previous two first-class hundreds against the same opposition, but it was one highlighted by a solid, responsible approach in spite of three chances.

Dropped on nine, 16 and 74, Griffith was within seven runs of his sixth first-class century when he tried to run a ball from medium-pacer Dennison Thomas that bounced and moved away.

It took the outside edge on the way to the gloves of young wicket-keeper Wayne Phillip to end an innings that lasted 4-3/4 hours and included eight fours and a six off 194 balls.

Before Griffith was out, Davis ensured that Barbados were not allowed to build significant partnerships by claiming the scalps of two Test men - Sherwin Campbell and captain Roland Holder - along with 17-year-old first-timer Ryan Hinds.

And when Hendy Bryan was threatening a late order flurry of runs, he had him caught behind just before the rain came.

It ended a satisfactory day for the 32-year-old, who missed last year's Red Stripe Bowl.

Restricted

Thomas was even tidier than Davis and as a result Barbados only managed 56 runs in the pre-tea session. They increased it to 98 between lunch and tea, but were restricted to 59 in the last session.

Barbados would have reflected last night on the disappointing fashion in which all of the top six batsmen were out.

Campbell spent more than an hour at the crease but never appeared to the comfortable. In trying to free himself, he edged a loose cut to the 'keeper.

Horace Waldron, surprisingly sent in at No. 3 in spite of his limited form in recent weeks, did not settle before a loose, flat-footed shot off Cameron Cuffy ended in the hands of second slip.

Holder, who needed 18 balls for his first run, was the third successive victim from an edged stroke. Driving with his feet planted together, he provided the 'keeper with the second of his four catches.

The first three batsmen might not have had major scores but they stayed with Griffith for some time in helping to build Barbados' effort.

By then, with the total on 124 for three half-hour before tea, Griffith had reached his half-century in fine style by hoisting Roy Marshall's left-arm spin over mid-wicket and onto the Kensington Stand.

It prompted wild screams from excited schoolchildren in a crowd of about 1 000.

Griffith, who grafted for most of the first three hours, was now starting to play with more freedom. He celebrated his fifty with a delightful extra-cover drive that was highlighted by timing and placement.

His new partner was debutant Hinds, who looked more assured than most of those before him. Inexperience, however, was his undoing when he skied a catch that was accepted by McNeil Morgan running around from mid-off.

Browne, like Hinds, was in good touch before falling lbw to Thomas.

Had Roy Marshall accepted a straightforward return catch offered by Griffith before he reached double-figures, Barbados might have been under pressure.

Instead, the Windwards allowed him two more chances, the first to captain Dawnley Joseph at gully and the next to Phillip, a highly thought of wicket-keeper, who had a mixed day.

With Griffith finally out of the way at 176 for six, the Windwards would have been pleased, but Bryan, with a few meaty off-side strokes, took the initiative away from the visitors.

Day 3: Bajans poised to snatch victory

For an hour-and-three-quarters yesterday afternoon, the Windward Islands displayed purpose, fighting spirit and doggedness that they so rarely do.

In the twinkling of an eye, however, that hard work was ruined by a typical moment of recklessness that has given Barbados an excellent chance to force a victory on the final day of their opening round Busta Cup match today.

No one expects the Windwards, who closed on 85 for three, to get near a target of 368 on a Kensington Oval pitch that is still behaving itself.

But when their captain, Dawnley Joseph, and young Joseph Parrillon were entrenched in a solid half-century second-wicket stand, the visitors' dressing room might have believed that they could salvage a draw.

As a low-keyed day approached its end, the inexperience of Parrillon resulted in a crucial mistake that Barbados duly capitalised on.

For some inexplicable reason, the 20-year-old Dominican tried to hoist Winston Reid's left-arm spin over long-on, only to see Hendy Bryan at mid-off move forward to take a catch.

It reflected a lack of concentration on the part of Parrillon, who had been battling for two hours over his 23.

Barbados, their enthusiasm lifted, took advantage in Reid's next over when a tentative Balty Watt was snapped up by an alert Dave Marshall at slip. He lunged forward to latch on to a catch after Sherwin Campbell missed the initial offering at gully

In the final half-hour, Vernon Dumas always seemed likely to get out, but somehow survived. Twice he was put down - both sharp chances - and several times he survived roaring lbw appeals against the spin of Reid and Marshall.

The Windwards, who started their run-chase after Barbados, with half-centuries from captain Roland Holder and opener Adrian Griffith, declared their second innings on the stroke of tea, had an early loss.

When Devon Smith, the tiny left-hander, was beaten by Pedro Collins' bounce and edged a catch to the keeper in the fifth over, some may have predicted a collapse similar to the first innings when the Windwards lasted a mere three hours and 41 overs.

Instead, Joseph and Parrillon defied Barbados and showed some aggression at times.

The experienced Joseph always seemed to be a lbw candidate, but after his early problems, he was quick to bang anything loose.

Twice in one over, Reid was smacked through the off-side and when Marshall replaced him at the southern end, the Windwards captain pulled him for a savage six onto the Greenidge and Haynes Stand.

Joseph ended the day on 42, made in two hours off 95 balls, and a lot depends on him if the Windwards are to avoid a seventh successive defeat against the home team.

Barbados' advance in the first two sessions might have been a bit faster than it was. They made steady progress, but when the declaration was made, they had added 156 runs to their overnight 89 for two at exactly three runs an over.

Skipper Holder was again busy and there were meaningful contributions from Griffith, debutant Ryan Hinds and wicket-keeper Courtney Browne against an attack that maintained a tight reign for the most part.

Only 64 runs for the loss of Holder were scored in the first session, but the others managed to raise it to 92 between lunch and tea when most of the scoring was done by Hinds and Browne.

Holder and Griffith extended their third-wicket partnership to 112, the captain dominating with 63 off 101 balls before he snicked a late dab off Roy Marshall's left-arm spin into the gloves of the keeper.

After lunch, taken at 153 for three, the left-handed pair of Griffith and Hinds played much more enterprisingly. They were especially strong on the drive and two such shots were among the finest in the match.

One was a straight hit by Griffith, the other was driven through extra-cover by Hinds. The common thing about them was the power and not a man moved from the moment they came off the bat.

For the second time in the match, Griffith was approaching a hundred, but was denied by a fine, low catch by Marshall at gully. Griffith's 76 included eight fours off 186 balls and was made in 4 1/2 hours to follow up his 93 in the first innings.

Hinds, as assured as he was in the first innings, but a little more selective this time, was six away from a half-century when the declaration was made. By that time, Barbados also lost Browne, who hit a catch to mid-on after making 27 off 42 balls and Marshall lbw, shuffling across his stumps.

Day 4: Windwards blown away

Without much of a fuss, Barbados swiftly completed an emphatic early morning victory over the Windward Islands at Kensington Oval yesterday.

The margin was by a massive 236 runs, but not even the most optimistic home town supporter would have expected the opponents to capitulate as tamely as they did.

In losing their seventh successive match against Barbados, the woeful Windwards offered a mere 75 minutes' resistance on a final day in which the last seven wickets were swept aside for 46 runs.

Unrealistic target

Resuming on 85 for three in search of an unrealistic target of 368, they could survive only 16.3 overs before falling for 131.

The win, rounded off by Hendy Bryan's impressive seam bowling and Winston Reid's left-arm spin, was completed only a few minutes after some enthusiastic primary school children had arrived at the ground.

To show their appreciation, immediately after the match, Barbadian players went across to the Greenidge and Haynes Stand to mingle with the little ones and sign autographs.

``I think it's a good win. It's always good to start the series off with win a win,'' Barbados manager Tony Howard said afterwards.

``What was important was what we discussed prior to the game concentration - and our concentration levels were high throughout the game.

Planning

``Everybody understood what our plans were and, more importantly, everybody went out there each session looking to achieve what we were planning.''

For an hour-and-three-quarters on Sunday evening, the Windwards buckled down and appeared to be offering Barbados some resistance.

Yesterday, however, they virtually repeated their collapse of the first innings when they were dismissed for 119.

The bowling of Reid and especially Bryan was unerring, but the Windwards folded too meekly on a pitch that held no devil.

Bryan, his off-stump line as immaculate as ever, took four of the last seven wickets, three to catches off the outside edge and the other bowled by a delivery of fullish length.

Reid collected the other three wickets, mainly with the help of wicket-keeper Courtney Browne, who finished an impressive match with eight victims including five stumpings.

Browne was one of those team members who received praise from captain Roland Holder.

``Adrian (Griffith) batted well in both innings. The effervescent Hendy Bryan and Winston Reid also did us well in the bowling,'' he said.

``All round we played well and supported each other well. The catching and ground fielding were good. Our work has paid off. Let's hope we can improve and get better as the series goes on.''

Dislodged

Yesterday, enormous responsibility was on the shoulders of Windwards captain Dawnley Joseph whose unbeaten 42 the previous afternoon was one of the reasons why his team entered the final day with a chance of drawing the match.

Within half-hour, Joseph was dislodged and so too was his overnight partner, Vernon Dumas.

Bryan, operating from the southern end for the first time in the match, knocked out Dumas' off stump in the day's fifth over, and 10 minutes later, Joseph lost his balance and was stumped down the leg-side off Reid one shy of a half-century.

The end of his 2 3/4-hour vigil marked the end of the Windwards' resistance, as the last five wickets went by in 45 minutes for the addition of 21 runs.

Bryan and Reid took turns in performing the final rites.

In the over after Joseph's dismissal, Bryan forced Roy Marshall to edge a rising ball to second slip, and 15 minutes later Dennison Thomas barely lifted his heel and was stumped in a flash off Reid's bowling.

Bryan then had Casper Davis caught at slip from another delivery which bounced a bit, and Reid continued the slide when Wayne Phillip was stumped after missing a wild swing.

Cameron Cuffy, a recognised No. 11, gave the schoolchildren something to cheer about when he smacked Reid over long-on and into the Hall and Griffith Stand, but the match was over shortly after when McNeil Morgan edged Bryan to the keeper.

Barbados' second match is against joint defending champions Leeward Islands starting on Friday in Anguilla.