Chanderpaul followed up his first innings hundred with 32 not out, as Guyana, chasing a modest 98 runs for victory, reached their target about 20 minutes before the lunch interval on the fourth and final day of the sixth round match at the National Cricket Centre.
The experienced left-hander drove Leewards captain Steve Liburd through cover for the last of his three fours to formalise the victory.
The victory means that Guyana have moved off the cellar to sixth on 19 points, and Leewards are just ahead of them in fifth on 22 points.
Guyana face Windwards in the final round, starting on Friday at Queen’s Park in Grenada, at the same time that Leewards meet Combined Campuses & Colleges at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.
“It is always good to win, and it will be a big boost to the team’s confidence going into the final round,” said Chanderpaul, who was a shoo-in for the Man-of-the-Match award.
“You needed to apply yourself and be patient which is a problem for most of our batsmen.”
Apart from spending time in the middle, Chanderpaul was also pleased that he suffered no ill effects from the thumb he injured on West Indies’ tour of Australia last December.
He is now looking forward to the coming home series against Zimbabwe which will be followed by the Twenty20 World Cup and a home series against South Africa.
”I am feeling okay with my injury,” he said. “Victory against Zimbabwe in the coming series will be a psychological boost to the team and the fans in the Caribbean. We have to lift our game and play more intelligent cricket.”
The result never appeared to be in doubt, although they lost a couple of wickets, after they resumed from their overnight total of 49 for three.
When Assad Fudadin was caught at mid-wicket off Liburd for 23, Guyana needed just three for victory, after he shared 56 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul.
Derwin Christian made things exciting, when he was caught at long-on off Justin Athanaze trying to finish the match in style before the serene Chanderpaul put the master touch on the finish.
SCOREBOARD
LEEWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings 192
GUYANA 1st Innings 287
LEEWARD ISLANDS 2nd Innings 192
GUYANA 2nd Innings (target: 98 runs)
(overnight 49 for three)
*S. Chattergoon lbw b Cornwall 9
R. Chandrika c wkpr Hamilton b Defreitas 0
G. Singh c Athanaze b Defreitas 26
A. Fudadin c Martin b Liburd 23
S. Chanderpaul not out 32
+D. Christian c Athanaze b Liburd 0
D. Bishoo not out 0
Extras (lb1, w1, nb7) 9
TOTAL (5 wkts, 26.2 overs) 99
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-26, 3-39, 4-95, 5-95
Bowling: Defreitas 6-2-28-2 (nb2); Cornwall 15-4-24-1 (nb4, w1); Banks 4-3-5-0 (nb1); Martin 6-2-21-0; Liburd 7.2-2-13-2; Athanaze 7-0-7-0
Result: Guyana won by five wickets
Points: Guyana 12, Leewards zero
Umpires: K. Barrasingha, G. Sohel
Man-of-the-Match: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Guyana)
