Windwards must rebound

The Windward Islands must rebound when they meet Guyana today from 8 p.m. at the Kensington Oval in Barbados in a Group A fixture, as the Caribbean T/20 Cricket Competition resumes.{{more}}

The Windwards, jubilant from a 28-run win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in their opening fixture, faltered against English County side Somerset, last Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda.

After notching up 139 for 4 from their 20 overs Somerset restricted the Windwards to 122 for 9 from their 20 overs, to win by 17 runs.

When Somerset batted, Jos Buttler cracked a 35 ball 47, with four boundaries and two sixes, and Craig Meschede hit 28 not out. Mervyn Matthew took 2 for 29.

The Windwards’ run chase saw Johnson Charles topscoring with 36 and his fellow St. Lucian, Gairy Mathurin with 27. Maximilian Waller took 3 for 16 from four overs.

The Windwards opponent, Guyana, is fresh from two unlikely wins, snatched from the jaws of defeat: first from Somerset, then last Friday, they squeezed home by two wickets over the CCC.

Guyana’s bowlers were plundered by the CCC’s batting, as they rattled up 175 for 7 from their maximum 20 overs.

CCC skipper, Vincentian Romel Currency, struck 43 with four fours and William Perkins also made 43 with four fours and two sixes. Chadwick Walton stroked 27 and another Vincentian, Miles Bascombe added 26 from 17 balls.

Guyana replied with 178 for 8, with two balls to spare.

Derwin Christian was adjudged Man of the Match, as he resurrected the defending champion’s fortunes, after they were 77 for 5 in the 10th over, then fell to 119 for 7 in the 16th over.

The powerfully built wicketkeeper scored 40 from 13 balls, with four sixes and two fours. Nkrumah Bonner was CCC’s most successful bowler, with 3 for 24.

Following this evening’s encounter against the Guyanese, the Windwards team faces Jamaica, also from 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, at the Kensington Oval.

The Windwards need to win their two remaining matches to remain in the hunt for a semi-final place.

The semi-finals are slated for this Saturday and the grand finale, the following day, Sunday, all carded for the Kensington Oval. (RT)