Cottrell heroics help Jamaica past Barbados

Jamaica survived a desperate fightback from Barbados to eke out a two-wicket win at Queen's Park Oval. Jamaica were cruising at 105 for 2 when Sulieman Benn sparked a dramatic collapse of six for 13 to give Barbados hope of defending 138.

Andre McCarthy (49) and Devon Thomas (33) had put on 84 for the third wicket before Benn wreaked havoc on the Jamaica middle order, with the left-arm spinner taking four wickets in a dramatic sequence spanning the end of the 25th to the end of the 32nd overs. Sheldon Cottrell arrived at No. 10 to thwart Benn's heroics with a pair of sixes as part of an unbeaten 16 that saw Jamaica over the line with 12 overs to spare, two overs earlier than required to secure a bonus point for Jamaica.

Earlier, Cottrell took 3 for 18 after Barbados chose to bat. Barbados captain Kevin Stoute top-scored with 39 but once again got little support as only Shamarh Brooks and Jonathan Carter reached double-figures among the top seven. Legspinner Damion Jacobs continued his fine tournament with 3 for 38 in support of Cottrell.

The other Group A contest between Trinidad & Tobago and ICC Americas was washed out at Shaw Park. Despite bright and sunny conditions from the scheduled start time, no play was possible due to a damp outfield following early morning showers.

Guyana maintained second place in Group B with a six-wicket win over Combined Campuses & Colleges in Basseterre. CCC were struggling at 62 for 6 following a sustained assault with the ball from Paul Wintz and Veerasammy Permaul after being sent in. Ryan Hinds propped up the innings with 47 off 94 balls before he was the ninth man out, dismissed on the last ball of the 48th over. Wintz wrapped up the innings three balls later for 149 and claimed 3 for 21 while Permaul ended with 4 for 22.

Assad Fudadin anchored the Guyana chase with 71 off 97 balls before Vishaul Singh carried his side the rest of the way with an unbeaten 36. Victory was achieved with 11.2 overs to spare to give Guyana a bonus point.

Windward Islands completed a dramatic one-wicket win with three balls to spare over Leeward Islands at Warner Park to stay in the Group B lead. Montcin Hodge and Daron Cruickshank each scored half-centuries as part of a 123-run second-wicket partnership for Leewards, who ended on 238 for 7 after batting first. Mervin Matthew eventually claimed both batsmen as part of his 4 for 49.

Johnson Charles cracked a run-a-ball 72 to spark the Windwards reply before they fell into trouble after his dismissal midway through the chase. When Rahkeem Cornwall dismissed Kavem Hodge in the 33rd over, Leewards appeared to be closing in on victory at 128 for 6 and 111 still needed from Windwards. Kyle Mayers, however, battled back with an unbeaten 55 off 38 balls from No. 8, including a vital 55-run eight-wicket stand with Shane Shillingford, to get Windwards over the line.