GROS ISLET, St Lucia, (CMC) – A magnificent century by Shane Burton fired the Leeward Islands to a massive 149-run victory over the Windward Islands in their final match of the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 One-Day Trophy yesterday. The Leewards, who have been whipping boys of the tournament, rattled up a tournament-high 329 all out off 48.2 overs, thanks mainly to Burton’s 172.

He clobbered 12 fours and 16 huge sixes off a mere 103 balls to form the cornerstone of the Leewards innings.

A shell-shocked Windwards then folded meekly for 180 all out off 35 overs, with opening fast bowler Damian Williams snatching four for 14 and partner Adelvin Phillip taking three for 38, to give the Leewards their first victory of the entire tournament.

Winning the toss and batting first at the Gros Islet Playing Field, the Leewards innings was headlined by the brilliant Burton.

He dominated a second wicket stand of 101 with Akeem Saunders who scored 20 and also reduced Hayden Walsh Jr (18) to a spectator in an 86-run third wicket stand.

Burton’s innings eventually ended in the same cavalier fashion in which he had played, caught close to the mid-wicket boundary attempting a six off left arm spinner Kavem Hodge. 

Other useful knocks came from Daren Benta (32) and Neno Henry (30) while medium pacer Shaquille Browne had figures of two for 48 and Hodge, two for 61.

The Windwards started their reply disastrously and were reeling at 23 for five at one stage, with their leading batsmen Atticus Browne (1) and Hodge (0) falling without scoring.

Captain Audy Alexander (44) and Dwight Thomas (19) rescued the innings with a 48-run partnership for the sixth-wicket, to give the score some respectability.

Bronte Bess (31) and Levaughn Lewis (24 not out) later featured in a ninth-wicket stand of 49 that further bolstered the Windwards innings.