Windwards Volcanoes go dormant at Arnos Vale

The Windwards once again have shown that they have perfected the methodology of losing a cricket match.

And, last Monday afternoon at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, the script was re-written.{{more}}

Needing 207 to win against Barbados Pride in the fourth round of the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League, and cruising at 191 for 7, with set batsmen Andre Fletcher and Alston Boob at the crease, a come from behind win seemed inevitable.

But, Boob was dismissed for 26, playing a rash shot and the Windwards folded for 195.

Fletcher was left stranded and dejected as his innings of 65 not out , which lasted 189 minutes, saw him collecting six fours.

He and Bobb had shared in an eight wicket partnership of 57, to add hope to the Windwards’ chase.

This, after a fairly good start at the top, with Johnson Charles (25) and fellow St Lucian – Keddy Lesporis (45), sharing an opening stand of 58.

Lesporis was the third to go, run out with the score on 45.

Then the middle order of the Windwards fell apart as usual, with Fletcher holding things at the other end.

It was 134 for 7, when Bobb and Fletcher had stitched up things, after Sunil Ambris (8), Romell Currency (4), Liam Sebastian (1), Tyrone Theophile (7) and Shane Shillingford (0), all failed to impress.

When Dwayne Smith trapped Kenroy Peters for 0, in the last ball of the 47th over, to give Barbados the win by 11 runs, it meant the porous batting of Windwards had come true to form.

Smith finished with 3 for 30, Ashley Nurse- 2 for 34, Carlos Braithwaite- 2 for 36 and Roston Chase – 2 for 37.

Off spinner- Shane Shillngford had set up the Windwards when he bagged 5 for 48, Peters- 2 for 25 and Mervin Matthew- 2 for 27, as Barbados with a lead on first innings of 78, was dismissed for 128.

Only Shai Hope’s 34 was any score of note, as Barbados was batting a man short after Omar Phillips was flown back home, after being hit on the helmet on Friday.

Philips was at the time on 38, and batting with Hope, when he received the blow from a fierce shot from his batting partner.

In that innings, player of the match – Roston Chase stroked 120 not out. He lashed seven fours and one six, while Hope made 50. They were the lead batsmen in Barbados’ total of 352.

Bobb was the pick of the Windwards’ bowling with 3 for 89; Peters- 2 for 62 and Shillingford – 2 for 110.

In reply, the Windwards scored 274 all out. Johnson Charles struck 151(12×4, 3×6) and Fletcher – 61(8 x4, 3×6). The only other batsman to reach double figures was Theophile who scored 20.

Charles and Fletcher had shared in a third wicket partnership of 150.

Not even a swarm of bees that invaded the field on Sunday morning, added any sting to the Windwards’ batting, as left arm orthodox bowler, Jomel Warrican spun his way to 5 for 75 and Ashley Nurse- 4 for 56, bowling for Barbados.

The defeat was the Windwards third of the tournament, having gone under to Jamaica Franchise and the Guyana Jaguars.

The Windwards lone win so far was against the Leewards Volcanoes.

Played in two rounds, the PCL takes a break for the Christmas season and resumes on February 6 next year.(RT)