Leeward Islands completes semi-final line-up

Leeward Islands grabbed the second semi-final berth from Group B with their first victory in the tournament, a 14-run win against Guyana in the rain-affected fixture at Sabina Park.

A damp pitch at the scheduled start of play curtailed the game to 46-overs-a-side, the first of many weather-induced revisions. Guyana chose to field, but play was stopped after three balls when Esuan Crandon raised concerns about the area where his left foot was landing. The officials then decided to shift the game to an adjacent wicket, reducing it to 40 overs per innings.

Leewards resumed aggressively, with the opening partnership raising 38 off 31 balls before Javier Liburd fell to Steven Jacobs for a lively 16. The middle order was unable to consolidate on the start with Chesney Hughes, Steve Liburd and Gavin Williams perishing for a combined contribution of three runs off 29 balls, Jacobs adding two more wickets to his tally. The losses forced opener Montcin Hodge to go into his shell as he attempted to repair the innings. He contributed 31 off 61 balls, as Wilden Cornwall arrested the slide at the other end with 22 off 33, but the fall of both batsmen before the 25th over, with the score yet to reach three figures, left Leewards in a tight spot.

Jahmar Hamilton then revived the innings with an attacking 37 off 27 balls. He hit four sixes and a four in his knock, and, aided by contributions from Justin Athanaze, Lionel Baker and Anthony Martin, propelled his side to a strong score. Guyana missed a trick after the ninth wicket fell in the 34th over, allowing the last pair to add 30 runs before finishing the innings in the final over.

Guyana's reply ran into trouble after a brief surge from Richard Ramdeen: 19 for 0 turned into 28 for 5 in no time as Gavin Tonge and Martin nipped out five wickets in as many overs. Showers held up play again in the tenth over, leaving Guyana in an unfavourable position with regards the D/L par scores. On resumption, Shivnarine Chanderpaul held one end up while Royston Crandon attacked for 43 off 59 balls, but Guyana still fell 14 short of the par score at 23 overs when the match ended.

While Leewards managed to win despite several interruptions, there was no such luck for Sagicor High Performance Center who were in a dominant position against table-toppers Barbados when play was called off at the Trelawny Stadium. The result meant Sagicor finished their group engagements winless, but a victory would have left them tied on points with Leewards.

Asked to bat first in a 40-overs-a-side game, Sagicor were guided by Rajindra Chandrika's patient half-century. He struck three fours in his 52 off 89 balls before being run-out. The other significant contribution came from Devon Thomas who made 31 off 30 balls, includng two fours and a six, as Sagicor finished with 154 for 5.

Barbados' chase was rocked early as Jason Holder and Veerasammy Permaul picked up a wicket each, while two batsmen succumbed to run-outs, reducing the score to 19 for 4. However, it began to rain in the 12th over after which no play was possible, resulting in a washout.

Semi-final line-up

Leeward Islands v Windward Islands at Kingston on October 21
Barbados v Jamaica at Greenfields on October 22