NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Leaders Guyana Jaguars continued their winning run in the WICB Professional Cricket League when they battered Leeward Islands Hurricanes by eight wickets inside three days here yesterday.
Set a paltry 73 for victory, Guyana needed just over an hour to reach their target, to post their fifth win of the tournament, and continue at the top of the standings on 95 points.
In contrast, the Leewards remained rooted to the bottom of the standings on 16 points, suffering their sixth loss in as many outings.
Resuming the day at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on 36 for one, the Leewards once again struggled, with Sherwin Peters and Gavin Tonge both top-scoring with 46, and Akeem Saunders getting 21.
They were undermined by Man-of-the-Match leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo who grabbed six for 82 to destroy the innings for exactly 200.
Peters and Quinton Boatswain (18) extended their second wicket stand to 48 before being separated when the latter became Bishoo’s first wicket of the day.
His dismissal sparked a collapse where eight wickets crashed for 59 runs to leave the Leewards tottering on 135 for nine.
Amidst the carnage was the wicket of Peters who hit eight fours in an innings that lasted 168 balls in just under four hours at the crease, before falling lbw to left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who took three for 57.
Montcin Hodge edged Bishoo to Leon Johnson at slip to fall for two at 80 for three, as the Leewards went to lunch at 83 for three.
Floundering badly after lunch, seasoned campaigner Tonge arrived to play a 31-ball cameo with a four and five sixes. He instigated a last wicket partnership of 65 with Jeremiah Louis (14) which frustrated Guyana’s charge to victory.
In pursuit of a small total, Guyana were led by captain Johnson who hit an attacking 36 from 42 balls with six fours and a six, in a 53-run second wicket stand with Vishaul Singh who was 22 not out at the end.
