NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – A steady all-round performance from Gary Mathurin helped Windward Islands rebound from defeat, and complete a six-run victory over Leeward Islands in a warm-up match on Friday ahead of the Caribbean Twenty20 Championship.
Mathurin collected two wickets for 13 runs from his allotment of four overs, as Leewards, chasing 138 for victory from their allocation of 20 overs, fell just short of their target in the match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
The result meant the two sides had split the two-match warm-up series, after Leewards won the opener the previous day by 37 runs at the same venue.
Chesney Hughes continued his fine form with the top score of 31 for Leewards, and Jacques Taylor supported with 23 not out. No other batsman passed 20.
Kenroy Peters and West Indies fast bowler Nelon Pascal also took two wickets for the Windwards.
Earlier, the visitors were dismissed for 138 in 19.1 overs, with Mathurin leading the way with 27 not out.
West Indies batsman Devon Smith added 27, and Andre Fletcher got 22. Newcomer Rahkeem Cornwall, Taylor, and Kelbert Walters all captured two wickets for the Leewards.
Windwards face the Combined Campuses & College in the opening match of the CT20 in Group-A tomorrow at the VRCG, and Leewards meet Barbados in their opening game in Group-B the following day.