Jaguars retain top spot despite loss

Veteran opener Devon Smith.
Veteran opener Devon Smith.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – Windward Islands Volcanoes have moved up to second place in the Regional Four-Day Championship standings, following their clinical eight-wicket win over Barbados Pride in the sixth round of matches which concluded last weekend.

Volcanoes started the round in fourth but their trouncing of the hosts at Kensington Oval on Sunday saw them climb to 69 points, behind leaders Guyana Jaguars on 92 points.

The visitors, behind a superb 199 from veteran opener Devon Smith, produced a strong batting display to pile up 470 for eight declared in their first innings before turning over Barbados twice for modest total, to be left with a simple target to chase on Sunday’s final day.

The win was Volcanoes’ third of the season but they have also recorded three defeats.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes remained in third spot despite their one-wicket defeat to Jamaica Scorpions at Warner Park in Basseterre.

They moved to 64.4 to be narrowly behind Volcanoes, heading into the seventh round this coming weekend.

Pride, third at the start of the round, slipped to fourth after suffering their third loss of the season.

Scorpions, meanwhile, have moved off the bottom of the standings to be fifth on 51.2 points while Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, who stunned Jaguars by 93 runs in Port of Spain to notch their second win of the campaign, are bottom on 50.2.