Veerasammy Permaul’s 7 for 48 in the second innings, his 21st five-wicket haul, helped Guyana defeat Trinidad & Tobago by ten wickets and climb to the top of the table at Queen’s Park Oval. Guyana’s win was set up by their bowlers, who first negated T&T’s winning the toss and electing to bat, by bowling them out for 202, and then fifties from no. 7 Raymon Reifer and no. 10 Romario Shepherd helped them take a 128-run lead. That translated to an eventual target of 56, which Guyana bashed through in 13 overs on the fourth morning.

Only three T&T batsmen managed to get past 30, as they collapsed from 172 for 4 in the first innings. Reifer took 3 for 48, while Permaul, Shepherd and Devendra Bishoo chipped in with two wickets each.

Guyana’s response also saw a collapse. A third-wicket stand of 89 between nightwatchman Bishoo(39) and Assad Fudadin (57) had taken them to 136 for 2 before Marlon Richards (4-57) and Bryan Charles (4-91) struck regularly to reduce them to 201 for 7. But Reifer made 55 as he took them into the lead along with Permaul (24), before Shepherd (53) made his first half-century and guided a 57-run stand for the final wicket with debutant Keemo Paul (27*) to take them to 330.

T&T’s second innings began with captain Kyle Hope’s dismissal for a second-ball duck, and barely took off after. A 48-run for the second wicket was the only substantial partnership. Once it was broken by Bishoo (2-68) in the 13th over, Permaul started chipping away, taking seven of the remaining eight wickets and pinning the hosts for 183. Isaiah Rajah, who made 41 in the first innings, was once again T&T’s top-scorer with 40 in the second.

After a washed out first day, 25 wickets fell on the second and 15 on the third before Leeward Islands completed a 34-run win over Jamaica at Sabina Park. Leeward Islands dismissed Jamaica for 56 after themselves being bowled out for 71, and finished the second day at 31 for 5. They were bowled out for 133 by Jamaica on the third day but only after Jahmar Hamilton struck a crucial 45, assisted by Jeremiah Louis (23). Setting Jamaica a target of 149, Alzarri Joseph took 5 for 43 while Louis took four wickets to bundle the home side out for 114 to take the win.

The match started on the second day, and Leeward Islands were skittled out for 71 after Jerome Taylor’s five wickets lit up the morning session. The joy for Jamaica was short lived, though, as four wickets each for Gavin Tonge and Louis saw the hosts dismissed for an even smaller total, giving the visitors a slender 15-run lead. By the time the second day ended, Leeward Islands were five wickets down as the game saw a wicket fall nearly every 4 overs. But Jamaica’s chase started as poorly as their first innings, and the home side fell to 15 for 3, and were soon 67 for 7 before they were all out 62.1 overs into the third day.

Roston Chase produced career-best figures of 7 for 22 to help Barbados register a resounding nine-wicket win against Windward Islands at the Kensington Oval. The result meant Barbados overtook Guyana at the top of the points table.

After Barbados secured a 31-run first-innings lead, Chase ripped through Windward Islands to bowl them out for just 71 in 25.1 overs. Fast bowler Miguel Cummins claimed the other three wickets to fall. Shane Shillingford, batting at No. 9, top-scored with 16 as only three batsmen reached double figures. Barbados required just four overs to chase down their target of 41.

The only session in which Windward Islands dominated was the period before lunch on the first morning. Openers Devon Smith and Tyrone Theophile added a 121-run stand. Kemar Roach dismissed Theophile for 44 in the 35th over and had Taryck Gabriel caught behind off the next ball. Keddy Lesporis (59) and Smith staved off the Barbados bowlers, but a clump of wickets in the final session of the first day meant Windward Islands were bowled out for 293, despite Smith’s 103. Roach and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican picked up four wickets each.

Although only one batsman struck a half-century for Barbados – Kevin Stoute with 61 – plenty of contributions pushed Barbados past Windward Islands’ first-innings score. Barbados were bowled out for 324 as Shillingford and Sherman Lewis picked three wickets apiece.

(Taken from ESPN Sports Media Ltd)