The last time the Leeward Islands played Guyana in the regional cricket competition, they won.
That was last month when they won by an innings and 59 runs in a second round encounter of Cricket West Indies (CWI) 2022 regional first-class season in Trinidad and Tobago.
Initially, the Leeward Islands were the whipping boys of regional cricket which forced them to team up with the Windward Islands and form the Combined Islands as the two teams were viewed as too weak to compete with the established teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana.
However, prior to their teaming up to become the Combined Islands the Leewards had shown flashes of potential and had actually defeated Guyana in a regional encounter in 1969.
The Leeward Islands gained first-class status in 1958, and their first regional match was a loss to Jamaica at Melbourne Park. After the Jamaica encounter, they lost their second match by an innings and 76 runs against Barbados at Warner Park, St. Kitts in 1967, their third outing also ended up in defeat to Jamaica by seven wickets at the Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s in 1967. Playing under the captaincy of St. Kitts, Leonard Harris the Leewards lost their fourth Regional match by an innings and 14 runs against Barbados at the Kensington Oval in 1969. Their losing streak was broken in their fifth regional clash with a 43 runs victory over the Joseph Solomon led Guyana side at Warner Park, St. Kitts in 1969.
Some 53 years later the Leeward Islands playing under the captaincy of Anguilla’s, Jahmar Hamilton trashed Guyana by an innings and 57 runs not at Warner Park but on neutral ground, the Queen’s Park Oval.
Today Stabroek Sports and Charwayne Walker looks back at what transpired 53 years ago with the Leeward Islands celebrating victory for the first time in regional first class cricket.
The Leeward Islands were led by Leonard Harris of St. Kitts at Warner Park while Joe Solomon was the Guyana skipper.
Leeward Islands scored 312 all out in their first innings with Nevisian Livingstone Sargeant top scoring with 77, wicket keeper Auckland Hector 58 not out Donald Richards, brother of the legendary Vivian Richards blasted 57. Hilson Phillips 35, bowling for Guyana spinner Lloyd Cornelius took 6 for 104 from 25 overs. Medium pacer Rex Ramnarace took 2 for 53 from 11 overs.
In Guyana first innings, they were dismissed for 149 with Solomon top scoring with 41, Alvin Kallicharran making 28 and Rex Collymore 23.
Bowling for the Leeward Islands pacer Donald Richards took 3 for 27 from 15.2 overs and Edward Arthurton took 3 for 35 from 24 overs.
Leeward Islands in their second innings made 223 all out Livingstone Sargeant 53, Ackland Hector 53 not out, Clement Hicks 40, Vance Amory 30. Bowling for Guyana debutant pacer Philbert Blair captured 4 for 53 from 23 overs, skipper Solomon lent support with 2 for 14 from 10 overs.
Guyana’s second innings ended with them scoring 343 all out.
Leslie Stewart 71, Vincent Adams 47, Claude St. John 42, Lloyd Cornelius 39, Joseph Solomon 35, Isaac Sueinarine 32 and Rex Collymore 26 were the principal scorers.
Bowling for Leeward Islands pacer Donald Richards took 2 for 48, Jeffers Warrington 2 for 63, Edward Arthurton 2 for 72, Leroy Coury 2 for 94. Guyana lost by 43 runs.
Following are the teams.
Guyana:
Vincent Adams, Isaac Sueinarine, Lloyd Cornelius, Geoffrey Murray, wkt. Alvin Kallicharran, Claude St. John, Joseph Solomon, Captain, Randolph Ramnarace, Leslie Stewart, Rex Collymore and Philbert Blair.
The Leeward Islands Team: Hesketh Benjamin, St. Kitts, Vance Amory, Nevis
Livingstone Sargeant, Nevis
Leonard Harris, Captain, St. Kitts, Hilson Phillip, Antigua (deceased), Edward Arthurton, Nevis, Ackland Hector, wkt., St. Kitts, Clement Hicks, St. Kitts,
Jeffers Warrington, Dominica, Donald Richards, Antigua and Leroy Coury, St. Kitts (deceased).
