Chris Gayle of the West Indies hits a shot during the first day's play of the third Test cricket match against India in Basseterre in Saint Kitts and Nevis Thursday. Gayle scored 83. - Reuters
CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC):
ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines (SVG) pulled off an emphatic 85-run victory over Jamaica at the Mindoo Philip Park Thursday evening to recapture the League Championship at the annual West Indies Women's Cricket series.
Jamaica entered the final round as leaders, but SVG snapped their winning streak and knocked them off the top of the standings.
It was the second time the Vincentians were winning the regional women's league title, having won in 2004.
Defending champions Trinidad and Tobago sealed a three-wicket victory to put them tied at the top of the table on 10 points with SVG, but the Vincentians claimed the title on the tie-break - they had beaten T&T (by 15 runs) in their head-to-head clash.
In Thursday's final round match, SVG were sent in by the Jamaicans and got to 172 for four off 45 overs - a rain reduced allotment.
Jean Butcher top-scored with a patient 56 that had just one boundary while Juliana Nero added a crucial 37 and Cleo Hoyte contributed 29.
FOLDED
In reply Jamaica folded for 87 in 30 overs.
Their consistent 15-year-old opener Stephanie Taylor was the only player to double figures with a solid knock of 46 that included three fours.
Sherianne John, with three for 28, and Cordel Jack (2-6) were the chief architects of Jamaica's demise.
At Beausejour, dethroned champions Trinidad and Tobago won the toss and inserted the home team. Hermina Vitae top-scored with 30 not out in a St. Lucia total of 146 all out in 46.3 overs. Brenda Solozano cleaned up the Saint Lucia lower order with three for eight from 2.3 overs and Gaitri Seetahal bagged two for 18 in her 10 overs.
In their chase, the experienced Solozano (41 not out) turned out a winning allround performance, guiding her team to 148 for seven in 42.4 overs.
In the day's third game at the Philip Marcellin Ground in Vieus Fort, Grenada romped to an eight wicket upset win over Barbados.
Electing to bat, Barbados were bowled out for 105 in 34.5 overs.
IMPRESSIVE SCORE
Grenada coasted to an impressive 106 for two with Marilyn Mahon leading the way with a breezy 51 not out that included four fours and one six.
Bernadette Mahon made 16.
Barbados, early leaders in the tournament after winning their first two games, finished with a three-game losing streak for fourth in the table with six points. The Grenadians had to settle for four points and sixth in the standings.
The knockout segment of the 2006 West Indies Women's cricket series started yesterday with the top two seeded teams SVG and Trinidad and Tobago getting byes into the next round.
In the opening round, Barbados played Saint Lucia at the Mindoo Philip Park and Grenada took on Jamaica at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Today is a rest day and the tournament will continue tomorrow with SVG playing the winners of the Grenada-Jamaica match, while Trinidad and Tobago will meet either Saint Lucia or Barbados.
