Hungry for a taste of sweet cricket from the West Indies team, served
previously in Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Vincent and Grenada, thousands of
Barbadians and other cricket enthusiasts flocked to Kensington Oval
yesterday.
There were T-shirts from Australia, accents from England, and flags
held high by supporters from the visiting Pakistani team and just
about every Caribbean cricketing territory.
Imagine then the disappointment for the home crowd when Pakistan
claimed victory for the first cricket contest on Barbadian soil of the
current series.
One of the West Indies' biggest cricket fans had his say.
'I have seen better One-Day International cricket played,' said Prime
Minister Owen Arthur shortly after lunch from the Mitchie Hewitt
Stand.
However, former president of the Barbados Cricket Association Tony
Marshall liked what he saw.
'The West Indies are taking a disciplined approach and are well placed
to win. Watching them restrict Pakistan to 197 for eight is what you
call a connoisseur's cricket.'
Another cricket fan pleased with what he saw during the first half of
play was Minister of Agriculture Anthony Wood.
'I have no doubt that the West Indies will win because they are
playing professionally. I am leaving to go to Guyana now, and when I
call home I expect to hear that the West Indies won.'
Unfortunately, the Windies batted poorly to spoil Wood's
expectations. They made 180, falling short of Pakistan's 197 for eight
in 50 overs.
He was also pleased with opening batsman Philo Wallace's performance
prior to his departure from the Oval.
'I am pleased to see him at the wicket and if he takes his time, he
will stay there for a long time.'
The game was somewhat of a thriller; one minute the West Indies looked
destined to win, and the other they looked helpless. The crowd,
however, stayed with the team from start to finish.
Patrons were especially receptive to Jimmy Adams, who made his first
appearance as captain at the Oval yesterday. And Sylvester Joseph, who
in his first One-Day International, 'did well under the
circumstances', as one fan was overheard saying.
But aside from the cricket, there were other dramas.
John Griffith, a visitor from Bransley, Yorkshire, England, learnt he
was father to a baby boy during the match via an announcement made
over the public address system which was met with thunderous applause.
And on a sad note, Margaret Williams' day at cricket was cut short
because she was 'not feeling well', according to her son Alex, before
an ambulance took her to hospital.