CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, (CMC) - West Indies-B are now provisional joint leaders of the 2004 Carib Beer Series after whipping the Leeward Islands by eight wickets late on the third day of their third round match at Grove Park yesterday.
Off-spinners Kenroy Williams and Ryan Austin combined for six wickets to reduce the Leewards to 224 all out in their second innings, and the WestIndies-B played steadily to reach their winning target of 57 runs.
They finished on 59 for two with Ryan Ramdass (30) and Danza Hyatt (22) steering them to their first ever win over the Leewards in an unbeaten41-run third wicket stand.
“I am very happy for the team, I think as a group they worked very hard and were disciplined throughout the game,” winning coach Roddy Estwick told CMC Sport yesterday afternoon.
In taking maximum 12 points, the West Indies-B jumped to the top of the standings on 24 points -- with Barbados -- pending the outcome the remaining games today.
Before recording their second win inside three days this season, West Indies-B had stumbled to 18 for two -- losing captain Jason Haynes (3) and Shawn Findlay (2) to Test pacer Adam Sanford (2-29).
Fending off a rising ball, Haynes lobbed a catch for Shane Jeffers to run around from slip to take on the leg side at 11 for one, and seven runslater, Findlay was trapped leg before wicket, playing back.
Ramdass was badly dropped by Jeffers at slip on 14 but West Indies-B, beaten by the Leewards in every previous meeting they have had in regional first-class cricket, went on to secure the win at approximately 4.55 p.m. local time, without any further casualties.
From an overnight 57 for three, the Leewards had resisted well during the first portion of the morning session, but stumbled before the break.
Young pacer Dwight Washington struck two important blows when he dislodged Tonito Willett (39) and the prolific Stuart Williams (11).
Willett had stroked five boundaries when he had his off-stump uprooted by an in-swinging yorker, ending a 43-run fourth wicket-stand with night-watchman Virgil Browne, at 99 for four.
It became 118 for five when captain Williams, the highest all-time scorer in regional first class cricket, drove loosely at a ball outside his off-stump and gave Haynes an easy waist high catch at first slip.
Carl Tuckett and Browne featured in a middle-order rally for the Leewards that detained the West Indies “Development” team in the field, and the session was extended 15 minutes beyond the scheduled tea-time, when the last wicket-pair held on until 3.00 p.m.
The Leewards slipped to 193 for nine -- from their lunch time 133 for five -- when they lost Browne, Elsroy Powell, Tuckett and Jason Williams.
The defiant Browne was first out after the break for 33, his forward defensive push breached as he was bowled by Williams.
Browne, who resolutely survived the entire morning session, faced 150 balls in a 184-minute stay at the crease during which he had no boundaries.
He added a team-best 49 with Tuckett for the sixth wicket.
Williams struck again two runs later when he dislodged Powell (2) -- via a bat/pad catch to Danza Hyatt -- at 169 for seven.
Tuckett, on 43, with three boundaries, popped a catch to Hyatt at short leg for the first of two quick wickets for Austin, who also removed Jason Williams (13) leg before wicket.
Kerry Jeremy then lashed two fours and a six over mid-wicket off Austin in an unbeaten 18, while sharing in a 31-run 10th-wicket stand with Sanford (13).
Williams bowled Sanford to wrap up the innings and complete team-best returns of three for 31 off 14.2 overs.
Austin (3-47), Washington (2-30), pacer Jason Bennett (2-57), were the other wicket-takers for West Indies-B.
Man of the match was Patrick Browne for his 83 that had carried West Indies-B to 339 and decisive 168-run first innings lead.
It was the third win for West Indies-B in their fourth season, having defeated the Windwards in 2001, Bangladesh “A” in 2002, and Kenya earlier this month.
In round four starting on Friday, West Indies-B play Barbados in Barbados, and the Leewards are away to Guyana.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES-B 1st Innings 339 (+P.Browne 83; V.Browne 3-77)