The Windwards needed to take four points from the match to keep them in a serious hunt for the semi-finals but instead the points went to the spirited Leewards leaving both teams with six points having got one point for each of their two losses in a strange points system.

The Leewards won the toss and asked the opposition to take first strike and held them to a decent 206 for eight from 50 overs. The Leewards then overcame a few nervous hurdles to score 207 for 5 from 45 overs and came away with their first victory this year.

The Windward Islands were pegged back, not by the loss of wickets but rather by a debutant spinner being given the new ball. Devon Smith, the usually fast striking opener had to entirely re-adjust his game to contend with Frank Munzac the left-arm spinner who speared the ball in much like Chris Gayle, with tremendous efficiency. Smith, never looking as fluent as when he is at his best, prodded and stuttered to 38 before he essayed a flick off off-spinner Chaka Hodge and was comfortably pouched by Omari Banks at square-leg.

His partner, Romel Currency, with whom he put on 71 runs in 24 overs, stroked the ball nicely from the middle of the bat to lead the batting with a solid 53 made over 91 balls and inclusive of two fours. All-rounder Darren Sammy, rewarded with a promotion from number seven to four after playing well against the Jamaicans on Sunday made a bustling 33 (2x4) off 50 balls to take the Windwards past 200.

Captain Rawle Lewis, the former West Indies leg-spinner, given that he appears several shades a better batsman than many others in his team should probably take a step or two higher in the order instead of continuing at six, where he has batted throughout. He came in and smashed two sixes and a four in a snapshot 23 from 21 balls and then went as he tried to hit Munzac out of the park but only reached as far as Hodge at extra-cover.

Hodge had, by then, completed his full spell for 38 runs, taking the wickets of Junior Murray (05) and Smith. The other off-spinner, West Indies player Omari Banks was not as inexpensive but took three wickets for his 55 runs off ten overs, taking the wicket of Currency, Sammy and the unimpressive John Eugene (08) who edged to wicket-keeper Jason Williams.

The Leewards response stumbled without a run on the board when the usually reliable Alex Adams tried to cut Cameron Cuffy in his first over and nicked into the ‘keeper’s gloves. Shane Jeffers learnt nothing from that dismissal and did the same thing to Fernix Thomas and was out in the same manner, with Murray taking his second catch.

Then Runako Morton who cover-drove Thomas for a supreme four all along the carpet tried to hook a sharp rising delivery from the same bowler and the ball, sadly ballooned to square-leg where Currency pocketed.

Stuart Williams in his usual bold style lifted his team from 18 for three with 45 from 43 balls in a partnership of 75 with Tonito Willet. After greeting Rawl Lewis with a six, Williams tried to repeat the shot and fell short, getting caught by Romel Currency at long-off. He did get a life when Smith at cover put down a stinging drive off Cuffy when the score was 28 for 3.

After the loss of Williams, Willet and Carl Tuckett persevered with intelligent run-gathering for 78 runs to take the total from 93 to 171 before Willett went. By then the game was virtually sealed for the Leewards though light was fast fading.

The compact right-handed Willett, made the first fifty for his team in the tournament fighting hard for 55 from 75 balls as he flayed five fours and a six.

But it was Tuckett, who played a single one-day match for the West Indies against England, who recovered some of his best form after being mis-stumped on nine to shoulder his team’s chase. The 33-year-old chunky batsman played a well-timed innings and stroked the ball with increasing fluidity to get to 71 from 100 balls and take his team to victory in virtual darkness and the threat of rain in the air. Tuckett relied mostly on deft cuts and flicks but spent enough time to also crack six fours and a hefty six in his almost two-hour innings.

The Willett and Tuckett duo batted forcefully as they took the game away from the Windwards who should have utilized their experienced and competitive bowling attack to defend their total, though it was not huge. Thomas turned in the best effort, taking two for 47 while Cuffy, left-armer Kenroy Peters and Lewis each got a wicket, but that was not enough to earn them a victory which they badly needed. They are now faced with the almost insurmountable task of beating Trinidad and Tobago and hope that Jamaica does the same if they are to go through to the semi-finals. The Leewards, to all intents and purposes are out of contention having lost to both Jamaica and Trinidad in their first two matches.