spinners to scrape four-wicket win
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent,  CMC – Windward Islands kept their composure to complete a four-wicket victory over Guyana, after Veerasammy Permaul and Davendra Bishoo threatened to derail them in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.

Chasing 58 for victory, the Windwards’ vulnerability to spin bowling was cruelly exposed by Permaul and Bishoo before the home team reached their target about 55 minutes after lunch on the third day of their third round match at Kensington Oval.

Left-atm orthodox spinner Permaul took three wickets for 16 runs from 12.1 overs, and leg-spinner Bishoo captured three for 20 from 12 overs to leave Windwards wobbling on 35 for six in the first half-hour after lunch.

But Garey Mathurin swung a delivery from Permaul through mid-wicket for the last of his boundaries to formalise the victory for the Windwards.

The result meant that Windwards gained 12 points and move to 19, and Guyana gained no points and remain on seven.

Guyana’s last wicket pair of Rajindra Chandrika and Brandon Bess made a fight of it with a final stand of 44, after the visitors resumed from their overnight total of 98 for nine.

Chandrika was not out on 37, and Bess was dismissed for 14, as Guyana were bowled out for 138 in their second innings about an hour after the start.

Mervin Matthew was the pick of the Windwards bowlers with four for 25 from 13 overs to make him a shoo-in for the Man-of-the-Match award.

Mathurin claimed the scalp of Bess to end with three for 11 from 14.5 overs, and Nelon Pascal took two for 28 from eight overs.

Permaul then had Tyrone Theophile caught at backward point for one, and Johnson Charles caught at mid-on for 13 before Bishoo bowled Keddy Lesporis for five, as Windwards slid to 31 for three at lunch.

After the interval, Bishoo trapped Andre Fletcher lbw for 10 and had Donwell Hector caught behind for one before Permaul had Lyndon James caught behind in the first half-hour to send jitters through the Windwards’ dressing room.

But Mathurin joined Windwards captain Liam Sebastien, and they ushered the home team safely to the target and their third victory over the Guyanese in the last four matches over the last three seasons.

GUYANA 1st Innings 142
WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings
J. Charles c *Fudadin b Bess 2
T. Theophile c and b Permaul 35
A. Fletcher b Permaul 43
K. Lesporis c Johnson b Bishoo 46
K. Peters c *Fudadin b Permaul 12
*L. Sebastien lbw b Bishoo 20
D. Hector c wkpr Christian b Bishoo 14
+L. James not out 19
G. Mathurin lbw b Bishoo 8
M. Matthew c wkpr Christian b Bishoo 1
N. Pascal run out 1
Extras (b4, lb9, w1, nb3, pen5) 22                                    
TOTAL (all out, 82.2 overs) 223      
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-82, 3-99, 4-144, 5-146, 6-186, 7-199, 8-214, 9-218
Bowling: E. Crandon 8-2-28-0, Bess 7-0-24-1, Permaul 23-7-47-3, Bishoo 33-4-92-5, R. Crandon 11.2-4-14-0

GUYANA 2nd Innings
(overnight 98 for nine)
S. Barrington c Mathurin b Matthew 5
L. Johnson c Charles b Matthew 0
*A. Fudadin lbw b Matthew 0
R. Crandon b Matthew 20
V. Singh c Fletcher b Pascal 16
+D. Christian c Theophile b *Sebastien 2
V. Permaul b Pascal 12
D. Bishoo c wkpr James b Mathurin 23
R. Chandrika not out 37
E. Crandon c Hector b Mathurin 3
B. Bess c Theophile b Mathurin 14
Extras (lb3, w1, nb2) 6
TOTAL (all out, 61.5 overs) 138
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-22, 4-35, 5-46, 6-46, 7-66, 8-88, 9-94
Bowling: Pascal 8-1-28-2, Matthew 13-6-25-4, Peters 8-1-26-0, *Sebastien 18-6-45-1, Mathurin 14.5-6-11-3

WINDWARD ISLANDS 2nd Innings (target: 58)
J. Charles c (sub) Jacobs b Permaul 13
T. Theophile c (sub) Jacobs b Permaul 1
A. Fletcher lbw b Bishoo 10
K. Lesporis b Bishoo 5
*L. Sebastien not out 7
D. Hector c wkpr Christian b Bishoo 1
+L. James c wkpr Christian b Bishoo 1
G. Mathurin not out 14
Extras (b6, lb1, nb1) 8
TOTAL (6 wkts, 30.1 overs) 60
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-20, 3-31, 4-32, 5-34, 6-35
Bowling: Bishoo 3-0-12-0, Permaul 12.1-5-16-3, Bishoo 12-4-20-3, R. Crandon 3-0-5-0
Points: Windwards 12, Guyana 0