NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – A crucial sixth wicket stand between Assad Fudadin and Derwin Christian helped Guyana overcome a mid-innings wobble to easily get past Leeward Islands and make a positive start to their Regional Super50 campaign here yesterday.

Chasing an inadequate 163 for victory, Guyana were cruising at 87 for one before losing four wickets for 28 runs to slump to 115 for five.
However, Fudadin stroked an unbeaten 26 while Christian finished on 22, as Guyana easily reached their target in the 46th over to win by five wickets at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
Left-hander Leon Johnson top scored with 30, Rajendra Chadrika chipped in with 28 while Chris Barnwell (22) and Trevon Griffith (21) also played key roles.
Off-spinner Justin Athanaze finished with two for 24 for the Leewards who winning the toss and batting first, were dismissed for 162 off 43.2 overs, with Jahmar Hamilton getting 40, Montcin Hodge, 33, and Rahkeem Cornwall 21.
Barnwell was instrumental, picking up four for 31 with his right-arm medium pace while West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo weighed in with three for 35.
Leewards struggled from the outset to be three wickets down for 56 in the 16th over, after they lost Austin Richards (1), Cornwall and then Steve Liburd (6).
Hodge was molding an innings together when he edged Bishoo to Johnson at slip to depart at 73 for four in the 22nd over and when Sylvester Joseph drove Barnwell tamely to Veerasammy Permaul at cover for ten in the 27th over, the hosts were in a tangle at 85 for five.
However, Hamilton shepherded the lower order, adding 36 for the sixth wicket with Tonito Willett (16) before eking out precious runs at the end.
In reply, Guyana lost Griffith in the ninth over at 30 for one but Johnson and Chandrika added 47 for the second wicket to stabilize the innings, before they were both dismissed.
Steven Jacobs fell first ball to Athanaze and Leewards were back in the game when Barnwell holed out to long on in the 34th over at 115 for five, before the experienced Fudadin and Christian squashed the hosts’ hopes, however, expertly guiding their side to their target.

Summarized scores from the other matches
At Kensington Oval: Jamaica beat Barbados by 75 runs.
JAMAICA 239 for eight off 50 overs (Nkrumah Bonner 110, Nikita Miller 42 not out, Simon Jackson 27; Kevin Stoute 2-31, Chris Jordan 2-48)
BARBADOS 164 all out off 44.5 overs (Jonathan Carter 28, Shane Dowrich 26, Rashidi Boucher 24, Kraigg Brathwaite 22, Chris Jordan 21; Tamar Lambert 3-22, Sheldon Cotterrell 2-21, Nikita Miller 2-26)
At Beausejour Cricket Ground: Windwards beat CCC by one wicket.
COMBINED CAMPUSES & COLLEGES 207 all out off 50 overs (Raymon Reifer 60 not out, Chadwick Walton 56; Shane Shillingford 4-39)
WINDWARD ISLANDS 211 for nine off 46.4 overs (Andre Fletcher 67, Devon Smith 54, Shane Shillingford 21; Akeem Dewar 3-23, Derone Davis 2-42, Kevin McClean 2-42

Scorecard
LEEWARDS Innings
M Hodge c Johnson b Bishoo 33
A Richards Jr c Wintz b Beaton 1
R Cornwall c wkp Christian b Beaton 21
S Liburd b Bishoo 6
*S Joseph c Permaul b Barnwell 10
T Willett c Griffith b Bishoo 16
+J Hamilton c Griffith b Barnwell 40
J Athanaze run out 5
L Baker b Barnwell 9
A Martin not out 1
Q Boatswain c wkpr Christian b Barnwell 0
Extras (lb9, w11) 20
TOTAL (all out off 43.2 overs) 162
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-36, 3-56, 4-73, 5-85, 6-121, 7-150, 8-151, 9-162, 10-162.
Bowling: Beaton 8-0-37-2 (w2), Wintz 6-1-12-0 (w2), Permaul 9-1-24-0 (w2), Bishoo 10-0-35-3, Barnwell 7.2-0-31-4 (w5), Jacobs 3-1-14-0.

Guyana Innings
T Griffith c Liburd b Baker 21
R Chandrika run out 28
L Johnson c Richards Jr b Athanaze 30
A Fudadin not out 26
S Jacobs c & b Athanaze 0
C Barnwell c Baker b Cornwall 22
+D Christian not out 22
Extras (lb3, w11, nb1) 15
TOTAL (for 5 wickets off 44.1 overs) 164
Did not bat: R Beaton, P Wintz, *V Permaul, D Bishoo.
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-87, 3-89, 4-90, 5-115.
Bowling: Baker 8-2-22-1 (w1), Boatswain 6.1-1-39-0 (w4), Martin 10-1-26-0 (nb1), Willett 4-0-19-1 (w1), Athanaze 10-2-24-2 (w5), Cornwall 6-1-31-1.