Barbados 406-6

Bermuda League Select 112

Barbadian cricketers continued their run rampage in Bermuda yesterday, winning their third consecutive match by a stunning 294 runs.

In the process, they amassed what is believed to be the highest limited-overs total on local soil, reaching a titanic 406 for six in their 50 overs at Somerset Cricket Club.

Then, they brushed aside a League Select for 112 runs, leaving themselves one victory away from a clean-sweep on tour.

The foundation for the visitors' phenomenal target was established by Floyd Reifer and Ryan Hurley who shared a mammoth, fourth-wicket partnership of 243, coming together with the Caribbean champions in a spot of bother at 56 for three wickets.

Hurley - whose departure with the score on 299 broke the union - took early charge and, though offering a few chances, punished all the bowlers with his ferocity and placement. As he raced past a hundred, Reifer - who was slowly finding his groove - quietly played a supporting role at the other end.

However, when Hurley was eventually bowled by Dennis Archer for 131 (ten fours, seven sixes) the opposition's collective sigh of relief proved premature. Reifer would now unveil his true colours.

Smacking boundaries left, right and centre, the left-hander showed why he is one of the region's most feared batsmen when in full flow. In one over, he roughed up his countryman and League Select skipper, Wendell White, smashing the latter for 28 runs with four savage sixes and a four. White bowled one more over and finished with none for 61 off four overs.

Reifer, who returned to the pavilion unbeaten on 171, faced 120 deliveries in 180 minutes at the crease and scored ten fours and 12 sixes.

"Today was a day to get some batting practice. Since I didn't play much cricket early in the season I took the opportunity to spend a long time out there.

"I am fairly satisfied but I still need to do a bit more work. I'm looking forward to another good innings tomorrow (today) because I need to prepare myself for the (Red Stripe) Bowl; to play some long innings and do well for Barbados this year again," said the 31-year-old.

The former West Indies batsman had determined to make amends for mediocre returns in the first two matches in Bermuda and "mentally tuned in" for the penultimate game.

"I was pretty disappointed in my first two hits. The wickets down here are a bit slower but it's important to cash in.

"To me, it's tougher to focus when you're playing against soft opposition but I was `psyching' myself up from last night (Monday night), telling myself there is no way I can bat three innings down here and not score a hundred. So I was ready for today's (yesterday's) game."

Hurley, who faced 101 balls in 134 minutes of batting, was not too pleased with his effort. The 27-year-old noted that he gave too many chances which other teams would probably have capitalised on.

Bowling for the League Select, Archer - another Barbadian expatriate - took three for 69 off ten overs while Grenada-born Kenny Phillips snapped up two for 49 from seven overs. Gregg Foggo took the only other wicket to fall.

In the League team's reply, there was finally something for Bermudian spectators to shout about as White produced the first half-century for a local team in the series.

The 39-year-old struck a polished 51 (nine fours) before being outfoxed by left-arm orthodox spinner Sulieman Benn who accepted his second return catch of the innings. White shared a third-wicket stand of 39 runs with LegTrappers batsman, Gary Knight, and a 24-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Stephen Outerbridge.

However, the script reverted to the norm - a consistent fall of wickets - after the top five batsmen were dismissed and 96 for five was soon 112 all out.

For Barbados, Ryan Hinds led the bowling with four for 19 from 7.1 overs to complement his 36 runs with the bat. Benn took two for 29 from seven overs and Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards and Hurley got a wicket each.

"I am content (but) not really satisfied with the performances. We still need to be sharper.

"We need to make the same runs but not give as many chances while getting those runs.

"I am not being complacent. We need to lift our game. If we're playing against opposition like this we need to score 400 every time we bat and bowl them out as quickly as possible or restrict them," said Barbados coach Henderson Springer, expressing concern about the number of no-balls and wides.

Regarding his batting, White said it was personal rivalry between him and the Barbadians, many of whom he played against when they were schoolboy cricketers back home.

"I wanted to do well and let them know that I am still in it and I still know what I am doing.

"I was batting to let the people in Bermuda know that somebody in Bermuda can stand up against this opposition," he said, adding his voice to the condemnation of other top cricketers who opted not to play in this series.

"I'm totally disappointed. The so-called big names should have been here to prove their worth. Competition is good and the only way we can improve is to take the challenge on and survive against it."

Barbados play their final game in the four-match tour today against an All-Star Select. The following players have indicated their availability for the All-Star team: Clay Smith (captain), Herbie Bascome, Sam Stevens, Kwame Tucker, Stephen Outerbridge, Dennis Archer, Curtis Jackson, Philip Burgess, Wendell White, Peter Philpott, Kameron Fox, Jacobi Robinson, David Gibbs, Gregg Foggo, Kevin Hurdle and Glenn Blakeney.