Barbados gain lead but unable to complete victory

Barbados gained first-innings points but were unable to complete victory after trying to make a game of it on the final day of the Carib Beer Series match against Windward Islands at the Tanteen Recreation Ground on Monday. Set a target of 234 in 38 overs, the Windwards held on to finish 82 for 5 when the match was called off at 5:50 p.m. with three overs remaining.

After dismissing the hosts for 241 shortly after lunch to gain a first innings lead of 124, Barbados opened up the match by declaring their second innings at tea on 109 for 4.

Following a 40-minute delay at the start, Windwards has resumed their innings on 182 for 3 but succeeded in losing seven wickets for 53, Ryan Austin's offspin and Ian Bradshaw's medium pace doing the damage. Austin, who finished with 4 for 99, added to his two wickets the previous evening by claiming the first two wickets on of the day. Bradshaw had 2 for 17 from 18 probing overs, including the wicket of top-scorer Craig Emmanuel for 60.

Barbados then scored at close to five runs an over and surprised some by declaring their second innings at tea. Windwards lost wickets at regular intervals - at one point being 52 for 5 - before Junior Murray (29), the former West Indies wicketkeeper, and Darren Sammy (15), the fast bowler, played out the remaining 50 minutes. Rawl Lewis, who took six wickets in the first innings, collected another two in the second to win the Man-of-the-Match award.