Port of Spain, Trinidad - Barbados edged T&T in an epic finale of the NAGICO Super50 tournament to win by 17 runs.
T&T looked in trouble at 94/5, chasing 253 runs for victory. However, Jason Mohammed and Denesh Ramdin came together in a 48-run stand to get the hosts back on track.
The wickets were always a problem though, and when Mohammed fell for 26, T&T were back in trouble. The required run rate was never a problem, but the wickets in hand for T&T were.
Ramdin fought valiantly, scoring 68 runs from 76 balls. When he was out, things looked bleaked for T&T. However, Rayad Emrit struck 27 runs from 18 balls, but attempting a third run with 20 more needed, he was run out.
Carlos Brathwaite was Barbados' best bowler taking 4-41.
Hosts Trinidad & Tobago managed pull themselves together at the end of the innings but Barbados still managed to get to 252 all out from 48.4 overs.
T&T started bowling quite tightly but when on 22, Dwayne Smith was put down by Evin Lewis at fine-leg, the local team seemed to drop their heads and shoulders.
Smith took of advantage of the drop, smashing 83 runs from 77 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes. The opening stand put on 127 runs before Kraigg Brathwaite was out for 36.
Jonathan Carter carried on where Smith left off, hitting 49 runs from 51 balls. But Lendl Simmons started the comeback for T&T, removing Brathwaite and Smith.
Kevon Cooper took 4-62 while Sunil Narine was quite economical, taking 2-18 from his 10 overs as T&T fought back to dismiss Barbados inside their 50 overs.
Barbados won the toss in the final of the NAGICO Super50 tournament against hosts Trinidad & Tobago and elected to bat first.
Barbados have opted for the same team that defeated Guyana in the semi-finals of the competition while Trinidad & Tobago have made one change, with Kjorn Ottley coming in for Imran Khan.
The much anticipated NAGICO Super50 final takes place from 2pm Eastern Caribbean Time (1pm Jamaica Time) this afternoon between hosts Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados at the Queen's Park Oval.
A capacity crowd is expected to watch a new Regional Super50 champion be crowned after the defending champions, the Windward Islands, were knocked out of the tournament in the group stage.
T&T won their semi-final in grand style, skittling out Jamaica for just 49 runs and proceeding to win by seven wickets. Barbados also won their semi-final match against Guyana by seven wickets.
Rashidi Boucher missed the semi-final match against Guyana through illness and it is still not certain whether he will turn up and play in the final.
Full Match Report to follow...
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Summary Scores:
Barbados Innings: 252 All Out (48.4 Overs). Dwayne Smith 83, Jonathan Carter 49, Kraigg Brathwaite 36, Sulieman Benn 22; Kevon Cooper 9.4-0-62-4, Sunil Narine 10-2-18-2, Lendl Simmons 5-0-23-2, Yannick Ottley 4-0-18-1.
Trinidad & Tobago Innings: 235 All Out (45.5 Overs). Denesh Ramdin 68, Rayad Emrit 27, Evin Lewis 27, Jason Mohammed 26; Carlos Brathwaite 10-1-41-4, Sulieman Benn 9-0-29-2, Jason Holder 8-0-30-2, Dwayne Smith 3.5-0-35-1.
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Barbados
D Smith c Dwayne Bravo b Simmons 83
Kraigg Brathwaite c Ramdin b Simmons 36
J Carter LBW Narine 49
K Stoute LBW Cooper 15
Carlos Brathwaite b Cooper 9
K Williams c & b Ottley 1
S Dowrich LBW Cooper 1
A Nurse b Rampaul 11
J Holder LBW Narine 5
S Benn not out 22
F Edwards b Cooper 1
Total: 252 All Out (48.4 Overs)
Extras: (1NB, 11WD, 7LB) 19
Fall of Wickets: 1-127, 2-132, 3-195, 4-207, 5-210, 6-210, 7-218, 8-218, 9-241, 10-252.
Trinidad & Tobago Bowling: Dwayne Bravo 5-0-40-0, R Rampaul 6-0-25-1, R Emrit 5-0-41-0, S Narine 10-2-18-2, K Cooper 9.4-0-62-4, Y Ottley 4-0-18-1, L Simmons 5-0-23-2, J Mohammed 4-0-18-0.
Trinidad & Tobago (Target; 253)
L Simmons b Carlos Brathwaite 19
E Lewis c Edwards b Holder 27
Y Ottley c Smith b Holder 0
Darren Bravo c Nurse b Benn 17
Dwayne Bravo c Stoute b Carlos Brathwaite b 6
J Mohammed c Dowrich b Benn 26
D Ramdin LBW Smith 68
S Narine c Smith b Carlos Brathwaite 0
K Cooper LBW Carlos Brathwaite 9
R Emrit run out Edwards 27
R Rampaul not out 9
Total: 235 All Out (45.5 Overs)
Extras: (3NB, 15WD, 9LB) 27
Fall of Wickets: 1-57, 2-62, 3-67, 4-75, 5-94, 6-142, 7-143, 8-160, 9-204, 10-235.
Barbados Bowling: F Edwards 9-0-62-0, J Holder 8-0-30-2, D Smith 3.5-0-35-1, Carlos Brathwaite 10-1-41-4, S Benn 9-0-29-2, A Nurse 6-0-29-0.
Result: Barbados won by 17 runs
Man of the Match: Dwayne Smith (Barbados)
Leading Batsman: Dwayne Smith (Barbados)
Leading Bowler: Rayad Emrit (Trinidad & Tobago)
Best All-rounder: Tamar Lambert (Jamaica)
Leading Wicket-keeper: Denesh Ramdin (Trinidad & Tobago)
Best Fielder: Evin Lewis (Trinidad & Tobago)
Clive Lloyd Trophy: Barbados
Umpires: Lennox Abraham, Nigel Duguid
TV Umpire: Patrick Gustard
4th Official: Lyndon Rajkumar
Match Referee: Hayden Bruce