Needing 18 runs from the last over, to defeat English Country Hampshire and reach the finals of the Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, the Windward Islands fell short by four runs at Kensington Oval last night.Scores: Hampshire 166/4 (20 overs) vs Windwards 162/7 (20 overs).Chasing the Englishmen's competitive score off 166, the Windwards with the backing of the local crowd failed, as they folded for 162 for seven.Mervin Mathews in the end tried his best to bring it home with a 15-ball 27, however bowler of the tournament Simon Jones' experience proved too much.
The Windwards started brightly and was in the game until the 15th over, the medium pacer Hamza Riazuddin turned the game. He grabbed three wickets in his final over to end with 4/15. Among his victims was Andre Fletcher who thumped 44 off 43 balls.Earlier, batsman of the tournament Johann Myburgh continued to torment regional bowlers, as he slammed 88 off just 58 balls with five fours and six sixes. What was remarkable about his innings was the fact that he batted with a runner for the most part after a leg injury.He and opener Jimmy Adams 22, posted a rapid 47 for the opening stand and this set the tone for the play.
Scores
HAMPSHIRE 166 for four off 20 overs (Johann Myburgh 88, James Vince 36, Jimmy Adams 22; Mervin Matthew 1-18) vs WINDWARDS 162 for seven off 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 44, Devon Smith 27, Darren Sammy 20, Hamza Riazuddin 4/15, Simon Jones 2/42) - Hampshire won by 4 runs.