Guyana humble J'ca
Guyana began their defence of the Regional 4-Day title with a 263-run win over Jamaica, set up by Veerasammy Permaul's match-haul of ten wickets, and a lower-order century from Keemo Paul.
Permaul's 6 for 29 in 19.5 overs skittled Jamaica out for 99 in the first innings, giving Guyana a 167-run lead. Seventy runs in Jamaica's innings came from just two batsmen - Assad Fudadin (39) and captain Paul Palmer (31) - as they were bowled out in a little over 50 overs. Guyana had earlier posted 266, with half-centuries from wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble (62) and No. 3 Chandrapaul Hemraj (60) anchoring them.
Guyana's efforts to build the 167-run lead were stifled by Dennis Bulli's strikes in their second innings but Paul, batting at No. 8 scored his maiden first-class century to ensure Jamaica were set an imposing 483 to chase in the fourth innings. His knock helped Guyana from 157 for 6, as he shared half-century stands with Leon Johnson and Sherfane Rutherford. Paul's 107 off 129 balls included 12 fours and four sixes. Bulli took his maiden first-class five for but conceded 104 runs.
A middle-order slump - they went from 98 for 2 to 115 for 6 - cost Jamaica dearly in a steep chase. Wicketkeeper Romaine Morrison pushed the score to 200 with a knock of 68 but Permaul and Paul took six wickets between them to bowl out Jamaica for 219.
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TT draws with Barbados
Denesh Ramdin struck a hundred and an unbeaten fifty as Trinidad & Tobago began their first-class season with a draw against Barbados.
Ramdin's 160-ball 101 had anchored T&T to a first-innings score of 300, seeing them through wicket bursts from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and seamer Justin Greaves. Warrican and Greaves ended with identical returns of 4 for 67, even as the T&T lower order did not put up much of a resistance.
Barbados eked out a ten-run first-innings lead, their score of 310 underpinned by fifties from Jonathan Carter (85) and Anthony Alleyne (84). Apart from the pair, no other Barbados batsman had a significant contribution to the innings, with the wickets spread between Daniel St Clair, Bryan Charles, Imran Khan and Tion Webster.
Ramdin then hit 56 not out off 76 deliveries as T&T sought to push for quick runs and set Barbados a target. Apart from Ramdin, Amir Jangoo (63) and Ewart Nicholson (55) also chipped in with runs as T&T declared on 257 for 5 to set Barbados 248. T&T's hopes of snaring a win would have been raised when Barbados lost three wickets in the first three overs. However, Aaron Jones (52 not out) and Carter (46) steadied Barbados with an 87-run partnership, as the side reached 117 for 4 in 28 overs.
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Leewards draw with Windwards
Leeward Islands walked away with the majority of points in their drawn game against Windward Islands after taking a big first-innings lead. Set a fourth-innings target of 222, Leeward then played out the draw, but not before they had lost six wickets for 112.
Electing to bat first, Windward found themselves in a good position in the first innings, with Roland Cato (90) and Kavem Hodge (41) guiding the team to 213 for 3. However, they went on to lose seven wickets for 20 runs to be dismissed for 233. Seamers Jeremiah Louis and Mervin Matthew took seven wickets between them.
Leeward openers Chesney Hughes (89) and Keacy Carty (74) then set about putting together a strong platform for the side with a 149-run opening partnership. Despite a slump, Nkrumah Bonner's 69 helped Leeward past 300 and they ended with a 110-run first-innings lead.
Windward's response in the second innings was much stronger. Devon Smith scored a quick 185 and Hodge struck a rapid fifty as the side looked to push for a result with a declaration of 331 for 3 that left Leeward with a target of 222. Liam Sebastien, Audley Alexander and Shane Shillingford then all picked up two wickets each as Leeward reached 112 for 6 by stumps.
