Narrow wins for Barbados and CCC

Shortly after their runner-up performance in the Champions League in India, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) carried the momentum into the President's Cup with a convincing outing with the ball against Jamaica at the Providence Stadium. In a match reduced to 44 overs a side because of rain, T&T's score of 201 turned out to be more than sufficient to overhaul a listless Jamaica, who could only manage 111. No batsman from either side managed a half-century, with Darren Bravo's 43 being the highest. T&T were in need of a recovery at 129 for 6 before the lower order propped them up. Samuel Badree scored 22 but he made a far bigger impact with the ball, conceding just nine runs off as many overs, enough to win him the Player-of-the-Match award. Dwayne Bravo and Dave Mohammed were also economical and took three wickets apiece. Jamaica, without Chris Gayle and Jerome Taylor (both withdrew due to illness), really struggled to get going and only four batsmen managed double figures.

It was a far closer affair at the Everest Cricket Club where Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) sneaked home by one run against Windward Islands. In another match shortened to 44 overs, CCC shrugged off a poor start to post 178 before shutting out Windwards in the final over of the match. Windwards' Nelon Pascal opening burst reduced CCC to 17 for 3 before Nekoli Parris and Kjorn Ottley staged a recovery with a stand of 80. Floyd Reifer chipped with a valuable unbeaten 45 to lift CCC to what turned out to be a competitive total. Windwards didn't get off to the greatest of starts as well with the bat. Kavesh Kantasingh left them wobbling at 10 for 3 and they were in further trouble at 41 for 4. Darren Sammy led the rescue efforts with 65 before CCC struck back. Shane Shillingford and Deighton Butler nearly took Windwards past the finish line but CCC prevailed.

Narsingh Deonarine and Royston Crandon set up Guyana's three-wicket win against Leeward Islands at Enmore. After being put into bat, Leewards managed 193 thanks to thirties by Keiron Powell, Steve Libburd and Jahmar Hamilton. Crandon, the offspinner, took 3 for 56. Guyana lost their openers early before Ramnaresh Sarwan, in need of match practice like the rest of the senior players in the West Indies team, put them on track with 43 off 74 balls. Deonarine scored a fifty before he was caught at cover off Lionel Baker. However, Leewards clawed back when Justin Athanaze struck with three wickets. Sarwan was one of his victims, out chopping the ball onto his stumps. However, the Crandon brothers - Esuan and Royston- then combined to steer their side home with nearly four overs to spare.

Barbados survived a real scare from West Indies Under-19, sneaking home by two wickets in a match reduced to 40 overs at Bourda. The U-19 side, after opting to bat first, posted 172 for 6, thanks to contributions from Kraigg Braithwaite and Evin Lewis. The pair added 73 for the second wicket, with Lewis top scoring with 53. Dwayne Smith, recently returned from the Champions League was the pick of the Barbados bowlers with 2 for 27. The U-19 bowlers, led by Akeem Dewar, stretched Barbados in their chase. They had a chance to record an upset after reducing Barbados to 141 for 8, but Sulieman Benn and Kemar Roach saw them through those tense moments.