GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Off-spinner Chaim Holder’s seven-wicket haul fired Barbados to a convincing 94-run victory over Windward Islands at the Demerara Cricket Club, yesterday. He snared the last seven wickets of the innings to finish with seven for 60 and send the Windwards tumbling for 231, well short of their target of 326.
Sunil Ambris counter-attacked for 44 while Larry Edward hit a quick-fire 36 but neither could prevent the loss.
Earlier, Barbados carried their overnight 292 for eight to 312 all out, with Mario Rampersaud extending his overnight 34 to an even, unbeaten fifty.
He stroked four fours and a six, facing 112 balls in two hours and 17 minutes at the wicket all told.
Left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge finished with four for 86 with fellow left-arm spinner Larry Edward claiming three for 86.
Faced with a challenging target, the Windwards started badly when opener Jamal James perished without scoring at five for one and captain Hodge was prised out for 11, to leave the innings rocking at 24 for two.
Opener Emmanuel Peter (29) and Keon George (27) then patched up the innings with a 41-run, third-wicket stand to carry the Windwards to lunch at 52 for two.
Peter hit five fours off 71 balls but was lbw pushing forward to Justin Greaves at 65 for three after the interval, to leave the Windwards in further trouble.
George anchored another fighting standing of 37 with Ambris who set the ground alight with several exciting strokes, smashing four sixes in just over an hour at the crease.
When George nicked a catch behind to give Holder the first of his seven, Ambris staged another fightback in partnership with Dwight Thomas (23).
Both fell in contrasting fashion in the space of eight runs, to spark the decline. Ambris prodded a catch to Shane Parris at short leg while Thomas was held at long on to leave the score on 153 for six.
Edward ensured the tail wagged, slamming four sixes and a four off 45 balls, dominating a 36-run, seventh-wicket partnership with Hollis Blair (7).
Once he chipped Holder to mid-off, however, the end came quickly as the last four wickets fell for 42 runs.