KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Windward Islands kept their composure to complete a four-wicket victory over Guyana, after Veerasammy Permaul and Davendra Bishoo threatened to derail them in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday.
Chasing 58 for victory, the Windwards’ vulnerability to spin bowling was cruelly exposed by Permaul and Bishoo before the home team reached their target about 55 minutes after lunch on the third day of their third round match at Kensington Oval.
Off-spinner Permaul took three wickets for 16 runs from 12.1 overs, and leg-spinner Bishoo captured three for 20 from 12 overs to leave Windwards wobbling on 35 for six in the first half-hour after lunch.
But Garey Mathurin swung a delivery from Permaul through mid-wicket for the last of his boundaries to formalise the victory for the Windwards.
The result meant that Windwards gained 12 points and move to 19, and Guyana gained no points and remain on seven.
Guyana’s last wicket pair of Rajindra Chandrika and Brandon Bess made a fight of it with a final stand of 44, after the visitors resumed from their overnight total of 98 for nine.
Chandrika was not out on 37, and Bess was dismissed for 14, as Guyana were bowled out for 138 in their second innings about an hour after the start.
Mervin Matthew was the pick of the Windwards bowlers with four for 25 from 13 overs to make him a shoo-in for the Man-of-the-Match award.
Mathurin claimed the scalp of Bess to end with three for 11 from 14.5 overs, and Nelon Pascal took two for 28 from eight overs.
Permaul then had Tyrone Theophile caught at backward point for one, and Johnson Charles caught at mid-on for 13 before Bishoo bowled Keddy Lesporis for five, as Windwards slid to 31 for three at lunch.
After the interval, Bishoo trapped Andre Fletcher lbw for 10 and had Donwell Hector caught behind for one before Permaul had Lyndon James caught behind in the first half-hour to send jitters through the Windwards’ dressing room.
But Mathurin joined Windwards captain Liam Sebastien, and they ushered the home team safely to the target and their third victory over the Guyanese in the last four matches over the last three seasons.
