WINDWARDS Volcanoes have their best chance of winning their first-ever regional first-class tournament since the Shell Shield four-day tournament was inaugurated in 1966.

In 1981 they shared the title with the Leeward Islands; playing as the Combined Islands under the leadership of Vivian Richards.
They now lead the points table with 89.6 points, 3.4 points ahead of the defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, who moved to the third spot with 87.2 points heading into the final round of the 2024 West Indies Championship which commences today.

Barbados Pride are second with 87.8 points while Leewards Hurricanes are fourth with 82.6 points, leaving the race for the title wide open for any of the top four teams.
In the final round, the game between the Leewards and the Windwards in Antigua could be the match which sparks the most interest.

Barbados battle the West Indies Academy also in Antigua, while Guyana who have won six titles in the last eight years oppose cellar dwellers CCC at the UWI ground in Trinidad.

This is the first season since 2014 that Guyana is playing without Leon Johnson leading the team, the region’s most successful captain with six first-class titles.
On paper, Guyana plays the weakest opposition but cricket is played on the field and for them to win their 13th title they will have to beat the CCC, taking maximum batting and bowling points and hope for the other games to end in draws.

Ironically, the last time Guyana played the CCC was in 2014 in a day/night game at the UWI ground in Trinidad; CCC won by seven wickets. This was the first game as captain for Johnson.
The CCC has beaten Guyana three times in their last five matches dating back to 2010.

Guyana won their last four games in this tournament after losing to the Leewards, when Mickel Louis became the 11th West Indian to score centuries in both innings.
Guyana’s other game against T&T was washed out in St. Kitts after only the first day’s play was possible.
West Indies all-rounder Kevin Sinclair has a century, 11 50s and 78 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls in 28 first-class matches.

He has 471 runs this season with his maiden ton and two 50s, highlighting an outstanding season with the bat. His runs are only bettered by Mikyle Louis with 549 and Kraigg Brathwaite with 473 runs.

He has the tournament’s third highest score of 165 not out against the WI Academy (behind Amir Jangoo 218 and Brathwaite 189) and could play a key role for Guyana with both bat and ball, especially since the track in Trinidad should favour his off-spin.
Skipper Tevin Imlach has the second most runs for Guyana with 380, including two centuries and a 50.

Keeper Kemol Savory and Tagenarine Chanderpaul have scored the other centuries in a tournament in which 18 hundreds have already been scored.
The Guyana top order has struggled to capitalise on batting points available when you score within a limited number of overs. Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu and Kevlon Anderson have been the most guilty in this regard.

In the last game, Raymond Perez replaced the injured Nandu at the top of the order but failed to take advantage of the opportunity and will need to bat the way he bats for DCC if Guyana is to get maximum batting points.
Many times in this tournament the middle order and the tailenders have stepped up to get Guyana to a big total
with Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie getting important 50s, while even pacer Nial Smith has chipped in with useful runs.

It will take a collective effort of positive batting to get Guyana to a massive total and try to beat the CCC by an innings.
Guyana’s bowling has been their strength with 19-year-old Isiah Thorne being arguably the quickest in the tournament, on tracks which have not been the fastest; he has 16 scalps so far.

Smith (15 wickets) returned for the third round from a hamstring injury and has also bowled with genuine pace, while the experienced Permaul (24) and Motie (15) have been among the wickets.
Sinclair could play a crucial role in this match which is a ‘must-win’ game for Guyana.

Over on the CCC side, Kamil Pooran has gotten starts in every game but was unable to convert his 88 against the West Indies Academy into a ton.
At the same time, the experienced Bajan Shamarh Brooks, with centuries at both Test and ODI levels, has been the biggest disappointment with his 62 against T&T being his best score.

Wicketkeeper Demario Richards has scored a couple of 50s, while Amari Goodridge scored 75 against the Leewards.
The 17-year-old leg-spinner Zishan Motara is one to watch for the future since he has 15, including a best of 7-108 against Jamaica, while 22-year-old Damel Evelyn has also shown promise and scored 50s against T&T and the Leewards.