NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Leon Johnson marked his Twenty20 debut for Guyana last night with a vital and unbeaten 37, which helped the two time champions to a five-wicket victory over Leeward Islands at the Vivian Richards cricket ground.

Scores:
LEEWARD ISLANDS 134 for six off 20 overs (Justin Athanaze 30 not out, Devon Thomas 26, Kieran Powell 22)
GUYANA 139 for five off 19.2 overs (Leon Johnson 37 not out, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 30, Christopher Barnwell 21)

Johnson, a former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 skipper, struck two fours and two sixes from 32 balls as the Guyanese successfully chased down 135 for victory in the second match of the tournament.
The left-hander shared a vital 46 runs fifth wicket partnership with his skipper and West Indies T20 all rounder Christopher Barnwell that put their side firmly course for victory, after they wobbled to 69 for four.
Johnson formalised the result for the two-time regional T20 champions, lofting Lionel Baker over wide long-off for six.
Earlier, Justin Athanaze gave Leewards a competitive total following a meltdown of their top order, hitting three sixes in the top score of 30 not out from just 15 balls, as Steven Jacobs snared 2 for 18 from four overs of controlled off spin during the Leewards’ powerplay.
More will follow in tomorrow’s edition of Chronicle Sport.

Scorecard
LEEWARD ISLANDS (20 overs maximum)
A. Richards b Jacobs 12
K. Powell run out 22
J. Liburd c Deonarine b Jacobs 1
C. Hughes b Deonarine 19
D. Thomas b Permaul 26
+J. Hamilton b Bishoo 9
J. Athanaze not out 30
G. Tonge not out 6
Extras (lb4, w5) 9
TOTAL (for 6 wickets off 20 overs) 134
J. Campbell, L. Baker, *A. Martin did not bat
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-41, 3-43, 4-73, 5-93, 6-99
Bowling: Jacobs 4-0-18-2, *Barnwell 1-0-8-0, Permaul 4-0-30-1, Bishoo 4-0-30-1, Crandon 4-0-23-0, Deonarine 3-0-21-1

GUYANA
S. Chattergoon c *Martin b Athanaze 12
T. Griffith run out 6
S. Chanderpaul c Baker b Campbell 30
N. Deonarine c wkpr Hamilton b Tonge 15
*C. Barnwell b *Martin 21
L. Johnson not out 37
R. Crandon not out 10
Extras (b1, lb2, w5) 8
TOTAL (5 wickets off 19.2 overs) 139
S. Jacobs, D. Christian, D. Bishoo, V. Permaul did not bat
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-31, 3-56, 4-69, 5-116
Bowling: Baker 3.2-0-34-1, *Martin 4-0-16-1, Athanaze 4-0-41-1, Tonge 4-0-11-1, Campbell 3-0-30-1, Hughes 1-0-4-0

Result: Guyana won by five wickets
Points: Guyana 4, Leewards 0
Toss: Leewards
Man-of-the-Match: L. Johnson (Guyana)