PORTSMOUTH, Dominica (CMC):

FRONT-RUNNERS Barbados maintained their nine-point lead after a dramatic post-tea Windward Islands collapse allowed them to complete victory by 141 runs on the final day of their third round Carib Beer Series match at Benjamin's Park yesterday.

Set 233 in a minimum of 60 overs after Barbados declared their second innings on 183 for nine shortly after lunch, Windwards tamely lost their last six wickets for 10 runs and were dismissed for 91 to hand Barbados their second victory of the season.

Off-spinner Ryan Austin, who took four for 26 in 12 overs, and captain Ryan Hinds, with two for seven from five overs, shared the last six wickets as the Windwards quickly subsided from 81 for four. Barbados achieved their victory even before the start of the final 15 overs as Windwards offered limp resistance.

Fighter

Left-hander Liam Sebastian, showing gutsy qualities after he was forced to retire hurt in the first innings with a blow to the elbow, hit the top score of 32, but most of his teammates easily surrendered their wickets.

Fast bowlers Pedro Collins, Tino Best and Collymore shared the first three wickets, but the heart of the collapse was due to poor strokes against Austin and Hinds. Apart from Sebastian, the only other double-figure contributors were André Fletcher (18), Herron Campbell (11) and captain Rawl Lewis (11).

The victory, in a match where a day and a half was lost to rain, pushed Barbados to 30 points, ahead of second-place Jamaica, on 21, while the Windwards remain bottom of the table with seven points.

Barbados first innings 171

Windwards first innings 122

Barbados second innings

(Resumed at 68-0)

D. Richards c Butler b Peters