Barbados on verge of memorable win

Barbados228 and 163 for 4 (Hinds 27*, Smith 24*) need a further 28 runs to beat Trinidad and Tobago 273 and 145 (Bravo 71, Best 4-41)
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Ryan Hinds pulls during his mature knock of 27 not out as Barbados closed in on victory over Trinidad & Tobago © The Nation

Barbados staged a remarkable comeback on the third day against Trinidad and Tobago, dismissing them for a lowly 145 with Tino Best picking up four wickets. Chasing 191, the Barbados are on course for a memorable victory and went to stumps on 163 for 4.

Barbados' tail was quickly mopped up in the morning before Best set to work. A nasty lifter accounted for Daren Ganga, skilfully caught by the wicketkeeper Patrick Browne, and Best was ably supported by Pedro Collins. In one over, Collins had three successive lbw appeals against Jason Mohammed turned down and, despite hitting Collins for a six, he soon edged a catch to third slip.

Dwayne Bravo was the only batsman to offer any semblance of resistance. His 71, from 104 balls, was littered with 12 classy boundaries and the visitors still stood a semblance of a chance when he was in. And despite six of the top seven falling for single figures Bravo was undaunted, batting with plenty of conviction. But he stood alone and, after falling to Ryan Hinds, Trinidad and Tobago's innings fell away.

Wayne Blackman - whose inclusion in this side has raised eyebrows in some quarters - batted with great authority in Barbados' chase of 191, with a 67-ball 51. And though Barbados lost four wickets, Hinds (27*) and Dwayne Smith (24*) will resume tomorrow needing just 28 to notch a memorable win.

Leeward Islands 396 and 122 for 5 (Mortan 44*, Banks 28*) lead Jamaica 353 (Hinds 100, Simon 4-73) by 162 runs
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A fighting hundred from Wavell Hinds, the Jamaica captain, has put his side in a strong position on the third day against Leeward Islands at St Kitts.

Jamaica were in trouble at 170 for 4 before Hinds and Tamar Lambert (70) steadied the ship with a fine fifth-wicket partnership of 143. Though Hinds fell for exactly 100 - and though Jamaica's tail crumbled meekly, losing 5 for 40 - his captain's innings led Jamaica to 353, trailing Leeward Islands by just 40.

His day improved, too; Jermaine Lawson removed both openers and Daren Powell struck twice to leave Leeward Islands struggling on 54 for 5. Ryan Morton (44*) and Omari Banks (28*) prevented capitulation with an unbeaten stand of 68, but Leewards lead by just 162 going into the final day.

Guyana 35 for 1 (Arjune 18*, Fudadin 7*) trail Windward Islands 392 for 8dec (Lewis 101*, Sebastien 90, Permaul 4-83) by 357 runs
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The Windwards Island put Guyana's bowlers to the sword on the third day at Grenada with their captain, Rawl Lewis, reaching a fine, unbeaten hundred. He was given excellent support from Liam Sebastien who fell 10 short of a deserved hundred as the Windward Islands declared on 392 for 8.

In what has been a soggy, interrupted match so far, Lewis and Sebastien resumed this morning with their side on 185 for 6 but put on 176 for the seventh wicket with Lewis hammering six fours and a six. Sebastien finally fell to Veerasammy Permaul, the persistent 17-year-old offspinner who marked an impressive debut with figures of 4 for 83.

Guyana lost their opener, Travis Dowlin, in reply but, with one day to go, this match is heading for a draw.