Brilliant batting by Sunil Ambris and penetrative bowling by leftarm pacer Delorn Johnson sparked Windwards Volcanoes to a hard fought five-run victory over arch-rivals Leewards Hurricanes in their final Zone B match and kept them in place for a semi-final berth of the NAGICO Super50 tournament.With that victory Windwards moved back to top of Zone B on 20 points and will definitely contest one of the two “semis” carded for the Queen’s Park Oval next Wednesday and Thursday.
Guyana also secured the other semi-final place having started the final round also on 14 points like Windwards but slightly ahead on overall better run rate.
They are also expected to get the better of the Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners in their final round day-night encounter at Warner Park, St Kitts.
Windwards Volcanoes batted first and amassed 243 for 6 off 49 overs. They had lost three quick wickets for 41 runs in 13.1 overs. Devon Smith was dismissed for one while Miles Bascombe was caught by Boatswain for six and former West Indies ODIs opener Devon Smith was caught by Chesney Hughes off Louis for one.
But Andre Fletcher and Tyron Theophille engineered a recovery and posted 75-run fourth wicket partnership before Theophille departed for 35 (b Brown).
Attractive strokeplayer Ambris, who was their batting hero against Guyana; was once again their star performer as he their team to a comfortable position at 243 for 6.
He shared two crucial partnerships with Tyrone Theophille with whom he added 75 for the fourth wicket stand and then found another useful partner in Andre Fletcher who batted at the number six position.
Together they featured in an 82-run fifth stand until Ambris was sixth out for a match-winning 74 that contained one six and five fours off 84 deliveries.
Fletcher made 42 while Kyle Mayers was unbeaten on 32 when the innings closed with one over deducted before of rain interruption. Skipper Liam Sebastien (12*) were the not out batsman.
Boatswain and Cruickshank took two wickets each for 31 and 47 runs respectively.
In reply, Leewards Hurricanes lost two early wickets but Sherwin Peters in tandem with Orlando Peters put their team in a strong position to topple their opponents.
Sherwin Peters made 32 when he was adjudged LBW for 35 while Bonner also departed for a similar scoreline. Jahmar Hamilton made 21 while Orlando Peters was dismissed for a well-played 77 and with it their chances of creating an upset victory dissipated.
Leewards Hurricanes drifted out of contention when their innings closed at 238 for 9 off their 49 overs.
Johnson (10-1-36-3) and Mervin Matthew (10-056-2) were the main wicket-takers while Kyle Mayers (10-0-60-1) and Kerron Cottoy (9-0-46-1) shared one each.
By BRIJ PARASNATH