The Leeward Islands need another six wickets to claim an outright victory against Windward Islands, who trail by 191 runs going into today’s final day of their WICB four-day, regional first-class match at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda.
Day three saw Leewards extending their lead to 319 before being dismissed by the opposition and they then claimed four Windward Islands second innings wickets in the final session of the day.
Resuming on their overnight score of 22 – 0, Leewards reached 198 in 63 overs adding to their 121-run first innings lead.
At stumps, the Windwards were 128 – 4 after 35 overs with Andre Fletcher unbeaten on 46 and Nelon Pascal not out on 11.
Omari Banks was the star of the day once again with both bat and ball as he picked up two more wickets to accumulate nine wickets in the match. He also scored a superb half century in the Leewards second innings.
Leewards’ Montcin Hodge and Mali Richards resumed on their overnight scores of 12 and nine eventually falling for 19 and 20 respectively. Keiran Powell got a good start but did not carry on after misjudging a Rawl Lewis delivery and was bowled for 29.
Gavin Williams came and went but skipper Steve Liburd and Banks added 82 important runs for the fifth wicket.
Liburd narrowly missed a half century when he played one wide of his body from the steamy Pascal and was caught behind by Lyndon James for 48. He spent 81 minutes in the middle striking three fours and two sixes in the 62 balls faced.
Pascal then removed new batsman, Wilden Cornwall with the very next delivery and two more wickets tumbled before the tea interval to leave the Leewards 196 – 8 after 62 overs.
In the first over after the interval, Banks fell for a well played 57 and the final wicket was claimed with the last ball of the over. Banks hit seven fours in 93 balls during 138 minutes.
Chasing 319 for victory, Windwards’ openers Devon Smith and Keddy Lesporis got 56 on the board before Lesporis was lbw to Michael Martin for 31.
Devon Smith (25) was Martin’s next victim caught by Hodge as Windwards found themselves 77 – 2 with 15 overs left in the day.
Banks then went to work, claiming the wickets of Liam Sebastian and James cheaply before number three batsman Fletcher, and night watchman Pascal saw Windwards safely to the close of play.
Scoreboard
LEEWARDS 1st Innings 325 (M Hodge 61; R Lewis 3-77)
WINDWARDS 1st Innings 204 (S Shillingford 52; O Banks 7-41)
LEEWARDS 2nd Innings (overnight 22 without loss)
M Hodge c Smith b Lewis 19
M Richards b Butler 20
K Powell b Lewis 29
G Williams c Smith b Lewis 3
*S Liburd wkp James b Pascal 48
O Banks c Hector b Shillingford 57
W Cornwall lbw b Pascal 0
+J Hamilton lbw b Pascal 6
J Athanaze c Hector b Pascal 6
L Baker c Lesporis b Shillingford 0
A Martin not out 1
Extras (b1, w1, nb7) 9
TOTAL (all out – 63 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-58, 3-62, 4-81, 5-163, 6-163, 7-175, 8-191, 9-197
Bowling: Pascal 13-0-40-4 (2nb, 1w), Butler 11-1-36-1; Shillingford 13-0-42-2 (1nb); Lewis 15-4-39-3 (4nb); Peters 8-2-18-0; Sebastien 2-0-14-0; Fletcher 1-0-8-0
WINDWARDS 2nd Innings
*D Smith c Hodge b Martin 25
K Lesporis lbw b Martin 31
A Fletcher not out 46
L Sebastien c Hodge b Banks 3
+L James c&b Banks 5
N Pascal not out 11
Extras (b4, lb3) 7
TOTAL (for 4 wickets – 35 overs) 128
Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-77, 3-90, 4-104
To bat: D Hector, R Lewis, S Shillingford, D Butler, K Peters.
Bowling: Baker 5-1-11-0; Cornwall 3-0-21-0; Martin 14-2-51-2; Banks 12-2-35-2; Powell 1-0-3-0
Position: Windwards need a further 192 runs to win with six wickets standing
Umpires: Clyde Duncan, Colin Alfred
