BLACK ROCK, Barbados, CMC – Windward Islands enjoyed the better of the exchanges on the opening day of their third round Regional Under-19 three-day Championship clash with Leeward Islands here yesterday.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, they restricted the Leewards to 179 all out with fast bowler Preston McSween finishing with four for 15 and left-arm spinner Edward, three for 61.
The Windwards then eased to 25 without loss at the close at the Desmond Haynes Oval.
The Leewards started poorly, losing opener Duan Webb without scoring in the first over of the day’s play and needed a century second wicket partnership to bolster the innings.
Darren Hobson stroked 69 and captain Akeem Saunders, 46, as they added 102 and carried the Leewards to lunch at 87 for one.
Both batsmen played well with Hobson being the more aggressive of the two.
He struck seven fours, faced 194 balls in 236 minutes at the crease while Saunders counted five fours and one six off 118 balls in 140 minutes.
The right-handed Saunders was eventually bowled by Edward pushing forward, 25 minutes after lunch.
Shawn Tuitt followed soon afterward, caught in the covers by Tarryk Gabriel off McSween for one and Hobson perished when he was involved in a terrible mix up with Ashawn Hodge (12) and was run out at 140 for four.
The Leewards then spiralled into decline with the last seven wickets falling for 39 runs.
