St. Vincent and the Grenadines kept their title hopes alive by recording a 53-run victory over St. Lucia at in the 2015 Senior Windward Islands Cricket championship on Sunday at the rural venue of the Park Hill Playing Field in front of a fair size crowd.
Looking for the very important outright win that would keep them within touching distance of leaders Dominica going into the last match, the home team duly did that, thanks mainly in part to their spinners of Alston Bobb and Keron Cottoy.
Possibly entertaining some serious thoughts of victory at 64/3, the St. Lucians, as has been the case with most of their innings so far in the tournament, went into a tailspin.
After setting their opponents 173 on a pitch that has conquered most of the batsmen, the Vincentians quickly grabbed control of proceedings by consistently taking the wickets of the batsmen most likely to create problems. Taryck Gabriel (45) with 3 sixes and 2 fours, did give some anxious moments but wickets kept falling at the other end.
Larry Edwards (25) also looked up to the fight but the others were never allowed any opportunity to remain at the crease for any extended period.
Cottoy, with 5 for 32 in 7 overs, and Bobb, 4 for 25 in 8.4 overs, proved too much of a handful, on the wearing track.
Earlier, St. Lucia who began the day on 122 for 6, were dismissed for 148 in 57.5 overs — a lead of 14 — with captain Craig Emmanuel, who resumed on 26, being not out on 37. Larry Edwards made 24.
Bobb finished with 5 for 34 and Cottoy 3 for 53.
SVG, with sights on an outright win, went in search of quick runs and, led by Sunil Ambris (52), Atticus Browne (48) and Kenneth Dember (23), were dismissed for 186 in 42.1 overs. Ambris and Browne added 81 for the second wicket after Miles Bascombe (17) went with the score on 29.
Ambris, showing his much-vaunted talent against the spin, used his feet well in hitting three sixes and two fours, while Browne also counted 2 sixes and 2 fours as well.
The St. Lucia bowling was led by Dornan Edward with 3 for 56 in 12 overs, Larry Edward 3 for 59 in 15 overs and Dalton Polius 2 for 14 in 5.1 overs.
SVG are now on 27 points, 8 points behind leaders, Dominica, who they meet in the final round from Tuesday after Monday’s rest day.