The Windward Islands Volcanoes booked their place in the final versus the Barbados Pride after beating the Guyana Jagaurs by 52 runs (D/L Method) in the rain affected second day/night semi-final of the Cricket West Indies Regional Super50 on Thursday at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Winning the toss for the fifth consecutive time, Jaguars’ captain Leon Johnson decided to bat second, and despite Romario Shepherd removing the dangerous Johnson Charles early, the Volcanoes still managed to compile the huge total of 287.
With 50 on the board, dangerman Devon Smith was removed by Paul Wintz, while former West Indies Test batsman Kirk Edwards fell for 27, to a superb return catch Ramaal Lewis, after adding 73 with Tyrone Theophile. Theophile was joined by Kavem Hodge, and the pair lifted the Volcanoes with a 107 run partnership before centurion, Tyrone Theophile fell to Chandrapaul Hemraj for 107, his maiden List A century which included nine fours and four sixes and Hodge was dismissed by Lewis for 57, eight runs later. Shane Shillingford added 18 while extras accounted for 19.
Faced with having to complete the highest successful run chase in the tournament, the Jaguars struggled from the get go, as in form batsman, Hemraj fell for four, and a mix up between the father and son pair of Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, saw young Tage run out after scoring 12.
Johnson’s struggle with the bat continued, as Hodge took a sharp return catch to remove the Guyanese skipper for four. A lot depended on the swashbuckling Christopher Barnwell, but with wickets falling on the other end, Chanderpaul 34, Anthony Bramble, 27, and the rains reducing the overs, Barnwell was forced to accelerate the scoring rate and departed after adding 25 to the score, with the Jaguars still a long way from victory.
However, Sherfane Rutherford continued Guyana’s fight with a 71 run stand with Veersammy Permaul, the highest partnership of the Jaguars’ innings before it was broken by Obed McCoy, who removed Permaul for 37, to swing the game back in the Volcanoes favor.
Rutherford and Wintz added 25 for the ninth wicket, providing the last flicker of hope for the Jaguars who were quickly running out of overs. When Rutherford run out for 49, Guyana’s fate was sealed.
Guyana’s revised target under the Duckworth/Lewis was 284 off 47 overs.
The Windward Islands Volcanoes now face the defending champions Barbados Pride in tomorrow’s final.
