Windwards on the verge of an easy win

ESPNcricinfo staff

Text size: A | A

Windward Islands are on the verge of an easy win against Guyana in St Vincent. After bowling out Guyana for 142 on the opening day, Windwards' top and middle orders chipped in to steer them to 223 on the second. Andre Fletcher made 43 and Keddy Lesporis contributed 46. Legspinner Devendra Bishoo picked up five wickets, giving his team a chance of a fightback despite conceding an 81-run lead. But Guyana capitulated in their reply. Seamer Mervin Matthew picked up four wickets, blowing away the top order, and leaving his opponents reeling at 98 for 9 at stumps. Bishoo resisted with 23 down the order, but there is little hope left for Guyana with just one wicket remaining and them just 12 runs ahead.

Barbados fought back on the second day against Jamaica at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Seamer Jason Holder finished with a five-for and shared eight wickets with Fidel Edwards as the pair ran through the remainder of the Jamaica line-up after they had posted 316 for 5 on the opening day. The last five wickets fell for just eight runs, the first among them being overnight batsman David Bernard, who made 84. In response, the Barbados batsmen impressed with opener Kraigg Brathwaite making 76, backed up by a half-century from captain Ryan Hinds. At stumps, Barbados were 220 for 4, still 96 runs behind.

Combined Campuses and Colleges took control over their contest against Leeward Islands in Antigua. In a collective bowling effort, where each of the six bowlers used picked up at least a wicket, CCC were able to bowl out Leewards for 186. The Leewards top and middle-order batsmen got starts but were unable to push on. Tonito Willet was the only one who managed to reach a half-century and he was helped by Lionel Baker at No.10, who made 37 to rescue his team from 125 for 8. But Leewards still conceded a lead of 100 which was extended to 147 by stumps with CCC still having nine wickets remaining.

Trinidad and Tobago held the edge against England Lions at the Queen's Park Oval. T&T needed just one wicket on the second day to end the England Lions innings and that didn't take too long to come as the visitors were bowled out for 325. T&T replied strongly with openers Lendl Simmons and Justin Guillen chipping in with 30s, and the experienced hands Runako Morton and Darren Ganga adding an unbeaten 49 for the third wicket to take their team to 173 for 2, still 152 adrift.