Hard hitting left handed T&T batsman Justin Guillen struck an excellent 72 to lead his country to a three-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands in their second match of the Super50 tournament at Warner Park in St Kitts yesterday.
Chasing a tricky 239 runs for victory off 50 overs, T&T were always going to be up against it with their inexperienced line up but Guillen and West Indies player Lendl Simmons 48 batted with great maturity to calm the T&T nerves after they lost two early wickets.
Simmons was very aggressive and took the attack to the bowlers and Guillen joined in with some handsome strokes. They took the score to 73 before Simmons left and then Guillen with assistance from the middle and lower order assured the victory.
He was unlucky to fall via the run out route but when he trudged off for 72, he had already done the business.
Earlier, West Indies wicketkeeper Devon Thomas led the way with a rapid 69 as the home team put up a good showing with the bat. He was aggressive against the T&T bowlers and attacked the spinners with confidence.
Also batting beautifully was all rounder Tonito Willett who remained 51 not out in the end. He took a particular liking to pacer Shannon Gabriel who ended with 2/53.
Leg-spinner Samuel Badree was however the best of the bowlers with figures of three for 23 off 10 miserly overs.
In the other game, Windwards opener Devon Smith continued his wonder season by stroking his third century and in the process leading his team to a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Batting first Guyana tallied 198 for eight off 50 overs with Trevon Griffith scoring 54 and Leon Johnson 52. Towards the end of their innings they got an aggressive 35 from Chris Barnwell. Smith then took over the show and counted a classy 110 not out and Keddy Lesporis 41, they took the convincing win. Smith has scored three centuries and a 99 so far this season.
Scoreboard
LEEWARDS
M Hodge c Simmons b Gabriel 1
A Richards Jr b Badree 2
R Cornwall lbw b Badree 8
S Joseph c Badree b Cariah 21
+D Thomas c Lewis b Ottley 69
J Hamilton c and b Badree 49
T Willett not out 51
J Athanaze c Badree b Gabriel 19
Extras (b1, lb4, w13) 18
TOTAL (7 wkts, 50 overs) 238.
Did not bat: G Tonge, A Martin, Q Boatswain.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-5, 3-22, 4-58, 5-139, 6-174, 7-238.
Bowling: Badree 10-3-23-3, Gabriel 10-3-53-2, Cariah 8-2-42-1, Emrit 10-0-42-0, Ottley 7-0-43-1, Simmons 5-0-30-0.
T&T
L Simmons lbw b Martin 48
A Barath b Boatswain 2
E Lewis c and b Martin 13
J Guillen run out 72
K Ottley b Martin 12
Y Ottley not out 47
+N Pooran b Willett 10
R Emrit c Richards b Tonge 18
S Badree not out 10
Extras (lb1, nb6) 7
TOTAL (7 wkts, 48.3 overs) 239.
Did not bat: Y Cariah, S Gabriel.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-50, 3-73, 4-150, 5-162, 6-187, 7-223.
Bowling: Tonge 10-1-40-1, Boatswain 8-1-55-1, Martin 10-3-24-3, Athanaze 10-0-51-0, Willett 9.3-0-55-1, Joseph 1-0-13-0.
Result: T&T won by three wickets.
Points: T&T 4, Leewards 0.
Man-of-the-Match: Justin Guillen.
Toss: T&T.
Umpires: N Malcolm & L Reifer.
At Arnos Vale: Windwards won by seven wickets
GUYANA 198 for eight off 50 overs (Trevon Griffith 54, Leon Johnson 52, Chris Barnwell 35; Dalton Polius 2-15, Nelon Pascal 2-35)
WINDWARD ISLANDS 199 for three off 46.5 overs (Devon Smith 110 not out, Keddy Lesporis 41, Andre Fletcher 25; Steven Jacobs
1-24).
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