By E. Glenford Prescott
Defending champions St. Vincent and the Grenadines go into the final round of matches in the 2016 WINLOTT Windward Islands Under-19 Cricket Tournament well poised to retain their title after putting together a food performance on Thursday against St. Lucia.
The host, behind the exploits of their spin twins, captain Othneil Lewis and Rasheed Fredericks, recorded a 94 run victory over the St. Lucians to go top of the standings.
The Vincentians moved to 18 points, 9 more than second placed Dominica after recording the first outright win in the 2016 tournament un the match at the Sion Hill Playing Field.
SCORES: SVG 180 & 153/6 dec., St. Lucia 98 & 141.
St. Lucia, who were set a target of 236 in 55 overs, were dismissed for 141, 10 minutes from the cut off time of 5:30 when Lewis trapped Kester Charlemagne for 19, swinging across the line to spark wild celebration among the SVG players.
The St. Lucians, who are bottom of the standings, went out with obvious intentions of attempting the target with captain Christian Charlery joining Kimani Melius at the top of the order and the pair went about the bowling in adding 36 for the first wicket before the former was caught behind off Lewis for 8.
They were soon 37/2 when Melius 23 was caught off Fredericks at took tea at that stage.
The resumption saw a downturn in fortunes of the St. Lucians as they found the spin a problem on a pitch offering assistance and lost wickets steadily.
In the end, Shadrack Descartes, who was shifted down the order got 30 and appeared the more adept at dealing with the Vincentian spin arsenal.
Lewis finished with figures of 16-3-39-4, Fredericks 16-1-45-4, Dillon Douglas 3-0-8-1, and Ronaldo Franklyn 10-4-15-1 in bowling their team to a comprehensive victory.
Earlier, SVG, which had enjoyed an 82-run first innings lead, had declared 153/6 with Douglas getting an unbeaten 56 Urnel Thomas 32 and Vincent Cupid 20. Collinus Calender finished with figures of 6-0-19-2, Johnnel Eugene 9-1-14-1, Joshau Mann 9-4-17-1, and Kester Charlemagne 8-3-25-1 bowling for St. Lucia.
SVG, which won the toss and batted on Wednesday’s opening day, were dismissed for 180 after recovering from 94/7 thanks to captain Lewis who got 74. Descartes took 4/22, Calender 2/18 and Eugene 2/39 for St. Lucia.
St. Lucia were then dismissed for 98 with Lewis taking 3/31 and Fredericks 2/21 with four batsmen going by the runout route.
Over at the main Arnos Vale Playing Field Dominica took first innings in their drawn match against Grenada.
SCORES: Dominica 243 Alick Athanaze 56, Deon Burton 54 and Brian Joseph 44. Camron Augustine 5 for 32 & 171/ 6 dec. Leic Charles 49, Tahj Tavernier 40, Athanaze; Jonathan Taylor 2 /18. Grenada 180 Emmanuel Stewart 59, Avril Mathew 42, Jensen Mitchel 28; Lee Louisy took 3 for 51, Kassim Peltier 2 for 33 and Terrel Toussaint 2 /7 & 88/4 Stewart 30,Jamal Charles 29.
In the final round starting today, SVG take on Grenada at the main Arnos Vale Playing Field while Dominica take on St. Lucia ay Arnos Vale 2.