Windwards squad seeking redemption

Expect the Windwards to give a sublime performance versus the Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Three W’s Oval in Barbados this weekend, or look like some school boys cricketers having a fun match on a pasture.{{more}}

Either choice, you might just be correct, as the consistently inconsistent Windwards seek to rebound after two heavy consecutive defeats in the West Indies Cricket Board-sponsored regional four-day competition.

The four nation grouping went under to Trinidad and Tobago last Monday by 166 runs, to remain on 12 points, earned after comprehensively beating Guyana by an innings in the first round match at the Grenada National Stadium.

The Windwards triumphed by an innings and 147 runs. But they followed that up with an innings and 66 runs loss to Barbados the weekend after, at Progress Park, also in Grenada.

Set 373 to win, the Windwards resumed from their overnight score of 82 for 3 last Monday at the Guaracara Park, but were bowled out for 206 in their second innings. Darren Sammy topscored with 61, and Miles Bascombe and Devon Smith, both hit 32, at the top of the order.

The Windwards were undermined by the spin of Amit Jaggernauth, who bagged 6 for 47, and Dave Mohammed 3 for 50.

This was a continuation of the trend, as the home team on the back of a maiden first class century, 105, by left handed Darren Bravo, a Brian Lara clone; Keiron Pollard’s 57, and Lendl Simmons, 46, Trinidad and Tobago piled up 310.

Sammy, 5 for 67, and Deighton Butler, 3 for 53, were the pick of the Windwards’ bowlers.

A top score of 39 not out from Butler, batting at number 11, and 38 from Captain Rawl Lewis were the highlights of an otherwise pathetic display of batting by the Windwards. Debutant Atiba Alert, with 4 for 57, was Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful bowler.

Batting a second time, the Trinidadians declared their innings at 243 for 5, led by Darren Ganga’s 78; Simmons made 62, and 52 came from Denesh Ramdin, to put the home in a position of comfort.

But it was Barbados who obliterated the Leewards by an innings and 55 runs at the Carib Lumber Ground in St. Maarten.

Barbados amassed 507 in their only innings, with Ryan Hinds blasting 240.

The Leewards made 204 in their first innings, with Runarko Morton making 72, and Tonito Willet, following up his 5 for 92, scored 70. Pedro Collins bagged 5 for 31.

Batting a second time, the Leewards fared better, as they were dismissed for 248, with Morton, looking for a West Indies recall, made 102. Hinds took three wickets, and there were two wickets apiece for Collins, Tino Best and Kemar Roach.

Jamaica beat the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) by 51 runs.

Scores: Jamaica 161 and 165, CCC 106 and 169.

Other fourth round matches which begin today see the bottom of the table clash between the Leewards and Guyana in Antigua and at the top of the table Jamaica hosts Barbados at Trelawny. (RT)