Windwards looking to regroup

With a bye in the second round of the WICB four day regional Cricket Competition, the Windwards will sit out this weekend and reflect on their six wicket loss to Jamaica in their opening match last weekend.{{more}}

The Windwards were comfortably beaten by Jamaica at Chedwin Park in Jamaica last weekend.

Again, spin bowling proved the Windwards undoing, as Nikita Miller spun a web around their fragile batting, dismissing them for 181 in their first innings. Former captain Rawl Lewis’ knock of 81 was by far his team’s best effort, as Nikita Miler bagged 7 for 24.

In reply, Jamaica compiled 335. Forgotten West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds scored 95, Donavon Pagon 56, Australian born Brendan Nash scored 40 and David Bernard Jr. 33. Left arm medium fast bowler Kenroy Peters returned with 3 for 64, Lewis 2 for 40 and the speedy Nellon Pascal 2 for 88.

Batting a second time the Windwards fared slightly better, scoring 251. Lewis was again among the runs making 63 not out and Tyrone Theophile playing his first match at the first class level scored 45.

Asked to make 98 to win, the defending champions did so losing four wickets in the process. Nash led the way with 40 not out.

Like Miller, Kavesh Kantasighn also bamboozled the Trinidad and Tobago batsmen to return match figures of 12 for 85.

The Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) took first strike and made 234. Omar Phillips who made an unexpected test debut for the West Indies last July against Bangladesh in the stand off hit 88 and Rommel Currency contributed 44.

Imran Khan was T and T’s top bowler, with 4 for 58, and Amit Jagguernaut took 3 for 56.

Kantasighn then grabbed 6 for 29 to rout the Trinidadians for 107. Skipper Darren Ganga made 44. With day three loss to rain, the CCC declared their second innings at 148 for 5, with Phillips making 70 not out.

In pursuit of 276 for a come from behind win, Trinidad and Tobago folded under Kantasighn for 124, to lose by 152 runs. Kantasighn pocketed 6 for 56. The left handed Justin Gullien made a top score of 31.

But the Leewards efforts only earned them six points versus Barbados.

Trying to make amends from their narrow first innings lost, Barbados, set 223 to win, was 158 for 7 at the close, holding on after their run chase was aborted. Kevin Stoute was the topscorer, with 34, and Shamarrh Brooks made 33.

The Leewards had made 236 when they first batted. Devon Thomas made 39 and Omari Banks, 31, with Kevin Stoute taking 3 for 21.

After an enterprising start, Barbados’ lower order melted to be dismissed for 229. Both Kirk Edwards and Dale Richards scored . Anthony Martin was the Leewards lead bowler with 3 for 38.

The Leewards ended their second innings on 219.

Displaced West Indies batsman Runarko Morton struck 89 and Montcin Hodge hit 55. Out of favour West Indies left arm fast bowler Pedro Collins took 5 for 36 and the inconsistent Ryan Hinds, 5 for 59.

The Windwards next match is on the weekend of January 22-25 at the 3W’s Oval in Barbados when they meet the CCC.

This weekend, though, the CCC plays Barbados in Nevis; Trinidad and Tobago takes on Guyana in Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica faces off with the Leewards in St. Kitts.(RT)