Butler among tops in bowling table

Overlooked by regional selectors for possible inclusion in the West Indies team in the upcoming tours to the Caribbean by South Africa and Pakistan, Vincentian left-arm pacer, Deighton Butler has reminded his detractors that he is still in the reckoning.

Butler bagged 31 wickets for the Windwards from his nine matches in the current Carib Beer Cricket Series. {{more}}

Butler was called up last November for the West Indies training squad to the One Day VB Series in Australia.

Although he did make the cut, his inclusion in the squad was recompense for his consistency and tenacity shown over the years.

Apart from his tally of wickets, his lower order contributions with the bat at times saved the day for the Windwards from further embarrassment.

There was a four-way tie at the top of the wicket-takers’ list. The quartet at the top of the bowling list were Trinidad and Tobago’s all rounder, Richard Kelly, Leewards medium pacer Carl Simon, Jamaica left-arm spinner Nikika Miller and Trinidad and Tobago’s off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth. All ended with 33 scalps at the end of the preliminary round, which saw the six competing territories playing each other twice on a home and away basis.

Windwards’ Captain Rawle Lewis, who was under some verbal attacks from supporters in the sub-region, surprised many with his healthy return of 32 wickets.

Jamaican fast bowler Darren Powell, like Butler, bagged 31 wickets, with Leewards’ seamer Adam Sandford ending with 30 .

Barbados and West Indies fast bowler Pedro Collins was ahead in the bowling averages. The left-armer, who emerged the top bowler for the West Indies in the VB Series, took 13 wickets at 14.92 apiece from the three matches he played.

Among the batsmen, Guyana’s captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul topped the averages. The dependable left hander amassed 384 runs at an average 128.

Veteran Leeward Islands batsman Stuart Williams was the top run scorer with 749 runs, returning an average of 49.3. Williams, who holds the record for the leading scorer in regional cricket, added his 2005 tally to the 5,737 runs scored from his previous 76 matches. He has indicated that he will retire from first class cricket at the end of the season.

Others surpassing the 600 run mark were Williams’ team-mate Ridley Jacobs,667;Windwards’ Devon Smith, 671; Guyana’s Narsingh Deonarine, 619; Jamaica’s Donovan Pagon, 616 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Daren Ganga, 610.

The Carib Series has reached the final stage this weekend with Cup winners Jamaica facing the Leewards for the decisive Challenge Shield.

Both will be vying for the winners’ purse of US$5000.

Jamaica earned US$12500 for winning the league title, tallying 95 points from their ten matches.

The Leewards, who will be hosted by Jamaica in the five day final starting today, ended with 54 points. Trinidad and Tobago docked in third with 54, followed by Guyana on 53, the Windwards 44 and 2003 and 2004 double champions, Barbados ending at the bottom of the table, with 35 points.