By Tony Becca, Contributing EditorMATCH NUMBER six in Zone A of the Red Stripe Bowl limited-overs cricket tournament takes place at Chedwin Park today with the Windward Islands versus the Leeward Islands X1.
Although it is all over for one as far as making it to the semi-finals is concerned, one is still in with a chance.
With two losses after going down to Trinidad and Tobago in a rain-ruined match and falling to Jamaica by 104 runs, the Leeward Islands are out of it. If they win their last two matches, the Leeward Islands X1 could finish with two from four, and if they do they could end up tied with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The truth, however, is that they are as good as dead and buried.
According to the rules of the tournament, in the event of teams finishing with the same number of points, the placing will be determined by most wins. If that is equal, the team that won the match between them will be placed higher, and even if Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, who have won both their matches, run into trouble, both teams, one with the help of the Duckworth/Lewis scoring system and one by 104 runs, defeated the Leeward Islands X1.
The Windward Islands, however, are alive and kicking.
After defeating Canada by 127 runs and losing to Jamaica who won with 22.2 overs to spare, the Windward Islands have won one and lost one. If they win today it will be two from three, and that would leave them with a chance of making it to the Final Four showdown in Discovery Bay when they take on Trinidad and Tobago at Kensington Park on Thursday.
The question is this: can they defeat the Leeward Islands X1?
Although the Leeward Islands X1, who were in the game against Trinidad and Tobago when the rains came, is considered by many a better team, there is not much between the two teams and with a little luck, the Windward Islands could win a low scoring contest.
Looking at both teams, although the Leeward Islands X1 will parade Stuart Williams, Runako Morton, Alex Adams and Shane Jeffers, plus Carl Tuckett and Tonito Willett, although the Windward Islands have in their line-up Devon Smith and Romel Currency, the dangerous John Murray and Rawl Lewis plus the competent Darren Sammy, neither team is strong in batting, and victory for one or the other could well depend on their bowling.
With Omari Banks in their attack, the Leeward Island X1 possess a good bowler with immense promise, and around to support him are pacer Elsroy Powell, offspinner Chaka Hodge and left-arm spinner Virgil Browne.
In the Windward Islands attack, however, are pacers Cameron Cuffy and Fernix Thomas, right-arm legspinners Lewis and Olanzo Jackson, offspinner Shane Shillingford and medium-pacer Sammy, and that is why, if their batsmen can come up with a reasonable total, they have a good chance, Stuart Williams or no Stuart Williams, Omari Banks or no Omari Banks, to win the match and stay in contention for the title.
