The Windward Islands prevailed in a low-scoring match on Thursday, beating the Leeward Islands by five runs to open the West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Championship. It was the opening match for both teams at the Conaree Sports Club in St Kitts & Nevis.
Three Saint Lucians were included in the Windwards XI – Theo Edward, Isaiah Jones and Darvin Forde. All three played important roles in the victory.
The Windwards won the toss and openers Edward and Stephan Pascal put on 41. Pascal hit 21 off 26 balls and Edward and Earsinho Fontaine combined for a further 29 runs before Edward went for 21 from 31 balls.
Edward and Pascal ended as joint top scorers as the Windwards were dismissed for 124 in 29.5 overs, collapsing after being well set at 92-2. Micah McKenzie took 5-36 in 9.5 overs to lead the Leewards.
The Leewards were quickly in trouble. Tanez Francis was trapped leg before wicket by Kirt Murray, and then Darvin Forde went to work. The right-arm pacer bowled Lawshorn Bergan for eight, had Eirette Richards caught and bowled for five, and enticed Devanand Singh to offer up a catch to Joel Durand for 21.
A watchful knock of 28 from De-Antre Drew threatened to seize the game for the Leewards, but they never scored freely and kept losing wickets. Jones bowled two wicketless overs, but he gave up just 11 runs. The Murray twins, Kirt and Kirtsen, took an impressive combined haul of six wickets for 42 runs from 17 overs.
The Windwards boys will aim for a stronger showing with the bat in their next encounter against Jamaica on Sunday, July 6.
