ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – A Johnson Charles half-century and critical knocks by Devon Smith and Andre Fletcher guided Windward Islands to a strong five-wicket win over Guyana on the fourth and final day of the second round Regional Four-Day Championship match here yesterday.
Chasing 181 for victory at Windsor Park, the Windwards reached their target an hour after lunch, to secure their first win of the tournament after suffering an 81-run defeat to defending champions Jamaica in the first round.
Charles, a 23-year-old right-hander who played two Twenty20s for West Indies last September, stroked an enterprising 66 and anchored a century stand with Test opener Devon Smith that all but wiped out any hopes Guyana had of rebounding.
Smith, who got a century in the last round, hit 43 while Andre Fletcher saw his side home with an attacking, unbeaten 41.
Resuming the day on 12 without loss, the Windwards lost Lyndon James early to a catch at the wicket off Chris Barnwell with the score on 18, after he had added six to his overnight score.
Charles, an aggressive stroke-maker, then joined Smith to put on 105 for the second wicket and snatch the advantage away from Guyana.
The St Lucian’s innings was a typically breezy one, laced with six fours and lasting 97 minutes and 94 balls.
Smith, meanwhile, played the sheet anchor role, counting two fours in an innings spanning 131 minutes and 117 balls.
Charles fell just before lunch and Smith just after but Fletcher put on a further 27 for the fourth wicket with Keddy Lesporis (8) to put the Windwards on the brink of victory.
Fletcher kept the pressure on, facing just 44 balls and hitting four fours and a six.
Lesporis and Windwards and West Indies captain Darren Sammy (9) fell in quick succession but Fletcher smashed left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul over mid-wicket to raise victory.
