The Barbados Pride and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes came up against each other at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Thursday.
The teams came into the game in 2nd and 3rd, respectively, with both being able to go 1st with a win based on the result in the match between T&T Red Force and Jamaica Scorpions.
Barbados were bowled out for just 196 in a rain-affected innings that saw the match reduced to 42 overs a side. Shai Hope and Roston Chase were the protagonists, combining for an 85-run partnership that got the Pride out of a spot of bother when they were 19 for 3.
Daniel Doram (9ov, 1/19) broke the stand, dismissing Chase for 45 off 58 balls with 5 fours. Hope was next for 55 from 76 deliveries with 4 fours and a six, but after that, wickets fell regularly until they were bowled out. Skipper Alzarri Joseph too 3/34 in 9 overs, and Hayden Walsh Jr got 3/43 in 8 overs, while Oshane Thomas took 2/35 and Terrance Warde 1/24.
With news coming through that the Red Force game had been abandoned, a win would guarantee either side the top spot.
Chasing a revised target of 192, Justin Greaves backed up his hundred in the previous game with a match-winning 95 not out off 120 balls, hitting 9 fours and a six.
Terrance Warde chipped in 22 off 38 balls in a 65-run stand with Greaves, but it was Walsh Jr’s excellent cameo of 21 off just 9 balls, including 2 fours and a six, that pushed the Leewards to victory. Walsh Jr and Greaves shared in a vital 26-run partnership that saw the Leewards over the line with 11 balls to spare.
Chase completed a superb all-round performance by taking figures of 4/34 in 9 overs, while Akeem Jordan and Kemar Smith took a wicket each.
