Barbados and T&T claim emphatic wins

Trinidad & Tobago recorded their second successive win of the Carib Beer Series when they predictably completed a comprehensive innings and 86-run win against Windward Islands at Guaracara Park.

Starting the third day at 49 for 2, Windward Islands were dismissed for 237, 20 minutes before the tea interval. Miles Bascombe (53) and Deighton Butler (54) chipped in with half-centuries but that wasn't enough to push the game into the final day.

Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul's 3 for 39 and left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed's 3 for 55 sealed the issue for T&T. Despite resistance from Butler and George, Rampaul wrapped up full points for T&T when he bowled Butler and subsequently had Jean Paul caught by Darren Bravo.

T&T's victory could have been achieved much earlier but the hosts were thwarted by several dropped catches and a stubborn ninth-wicket partnership of 80 between Butler and Dennis George, who finished unbeaten on 34. Butler's innings lasted 110 balls, including six fours and one six.

With the win, T&T move to 30 points and need only a draw in the last game against Jamaica at Sabina Park to qualify for the Carib Beer Challenge final.

Barbados wasted little time in completing an emphatic innings-and-31-run victory over Jamaica on the third day of their fourth round Carib Beer Series match at Chedwin Park.

Barbados' third win of the season lifted them to 42 points and maintained their position at the top of the table ahead of the final round of matches. Jamaica, resuming their second innings on 81 for 5 and trailing by 85, offered little resistance against fast bowlers Pedro Collins and Corey Collymore, ending on 135 in spite of some lower-order fireworks from the tail.

The defeat for Jamaica kept them on 21 points. Barbados, who only need to avoid defeat in their final match to win the Cup, meet Guyana in the last round starting next Monday, while Jamaica, whose only chance of reaching the final is a victory in their last encounter, are up against Trinidad & Tobago at Alpart.

Guyana were on the verge of gaining a victory against the Leeward Islands at close on the third day of their fourth-round Carib Beer Series match at Albion.

Chasing 237 for victory, Guyana had carefully made their way to 121 for 3, needing 116 more for a win. Leewards' chance of denying Guyana victory were seriously dented after skipper Sylvester Joseph put down Ramnaresh Sarwan before he had scored, in the final session. Travis Dowlin's 38, along with his 50-run third-wicket stand with Azeemul Haniff, put them on track.

Earlier, Leewards were dismissed for 244 after resuming at 149 for 3. Joseph, unbeaten on 50 overnight, carried on for 79 before being caught at the wicket. Omari Banks soon reached his ninth first-class century but failed to build on, falling to left-arm spinner Veersammy Permaul.