Unbeaten half centuries from Tyrone Theophille and Sunil Ambris led the Windward Islands to an emphatic seven-wicket win over the T&T Red Force in the final round of the Regional Four-Day Tournament at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, yesterday.
The victory meant the Windward Islands finished in fifth position in the six-team standings, leapfrogging the Leewards which lost to Barbados on Sunday. T&T would have finished in third position with a victory but stayed in fourth place with the defeat. Guyana won the title, finishing ahead of Barbados (second) and Jamaica (third) in the standings.
Resuming on 8/0 chasing 166 for victory, the Windward Islands raced to 169/3 with Theophille hitting an unbeaten 83 and Ambris matching him stroke for stroke with 54 not out.
The only time T&T had a glimmer of hope was when the Windwards were reduced to 68/3 after first innings centurion Devon Smith (four), Jerlani Robinson (19) and Gidron Pope (four) were dismissed. However, the right-handed pair of Theophille and Ambris quickly erased the possibility of a fightback by T&T, with aggressive strokeplay.
The Volcanoes went to lunch 113/3 off 32 overs with Theophille on 57 and Ambris on 24 only needing 53 runs for victory. Spin bowler Jon-Russ Jagessar, who has been a spark for T&T following his success in the Nagico Super50 tournament in January, felt the brunt of the Windwards pair conceding 29 runs in four overs after lunch. T&T captain Yannick Ottley continued to stick with his spin bowlers in the second session including himself, Imran Khan and Narsingh Deonarine but the plan did not work.
T&T’s day and probably the season was summed up when Khan gave a lazy effort attempting a catch fielding at mid on off Deonarine. Theophille, who scored 75 in the first innings, finished the match with a six over mid wicket off Ottley. Theophille struck an unbeaten 83 off 122 balls lashing ten fours and one six, while Ambris slammed 54 off 54 balls with ten fours. Bowling for T&T Rayad Emrit (4-2-16-1), Khan (10-0-37-1) and Jagessar (12-0-49-1) all took one wicket apiece.
SCOREBOARD
Red Force 1st Inns 211
Volcanoes 1st Inns 289
Red Force 2nd Inns 243
Volcanoes 2nd Inns (o/n 8/0)
D Smith c S Katwaroo b R Emrit 4
T Theophille not out 83
J Robinson c I Khan b J Jagessar 19
G Pope c Y Ottley b I Khan 4
S Ambris not out 54
Extras 1b 4lb 5
Total (for 3 wkts) 169
Fall of Wkts: 9, 57, 68
Bowling: N Deonarine 5-2-8-0, M Richards 4-0-19-0, R Emrit 4-2-16-1, I Khan 10-0-37-1, J Jagessar 12-0-49-1, Y Ottley 6.1-0-35-0
Result: Windward Islands won by seven wickets