ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):
Guyana Harpy Eagles off-spinner Kevin Sinclair enhanced his reputation with a destructive spell, but batsmen once again failed to make a lasting impression when Team Weekes claimed an eight-wicket win against Team Headley in the third and final match of the Headley-Weekes Tri-Series yesterday in Antigua.
Sinclair collected five for 48 from 21 overs, and Team Headley were bowled out for 153 in their second innings, about five minutes past the scheduled lunch interval on the third day of the four-day, first-class match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
Set 96 to win, Team Weekes hardly broke a sweat reaching the target once openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Zachary McCaskie both scored 33, and shared a first-wicket stand of 61.
Chanderpaul, the West Indies Test opener, and McCaskie, the Barbados Pride opener, both fell before the win was achieved, but Team Weekes captain Alick Athanaze came to the crease and carried his side over the line with West Indies’ left-handed all-rounder Raymon Reifer.
The win was formalised about an hour and 40 minutes after lunch when Matthew Nandu, bowling his uncomplicated off-spin, delivered a no-ball.
The result meant that the inactive West Indies Academy, led by Barbadian all-rounder Nyeem Young, were formally crowned the inaugural champions of the Tri-Series, with Team Weekes second, and Team Headley last.
WOBBLY START
Starting the day on 67 for two, Team Weekes were put into an early wobble when Sinclair struck in the first and third overs of the day.
He got Sunil Ambris caught at long-on for four off the fourth ball of the day after the Windward Islands Volcanoes batsman added only three to his overnight score, and he then trapped Volcanoes wicketkeeper-batsman Tevyn Walcott lbw for a three-ball duck in his next over.
West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman and Team Headley captain Joshua Da Silva spent 40 minutes in defiance and push his side closer to the 100 mark with Nandu.
Pacer Niall Smith got his Harpy Eagles teammate Nandu caught behind for the top score of 36 from a top-edged hook, and Sinclair trapped Da Silva lbw for 15 in the next over.
Team Headley were 95 for six and they never recovered, losing their last four wickets for 33 in the span of 64 balls.