Charles puts Windwards into semi-finals

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):Windward Islands stormed into the semi-finals of the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament following a typically enterprising 65 from Johnson Charles that helped them knock two-time champions Guyana out with a five-wicket victory under the Duckworth/Lewis Method in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

Charles continued his rich vein of form in the tournament, smashing three fours and three sixes from 43 balls, as the Windwards successfully chased a revised target of 119 from 16 overs in their rain-affected, final Group 'A' match that started late on Thursday at Kensington Oval.

The St Lucian opener put on 49 for the first wicket with Miles Bascombe and 36 for the third wicket with Devon Smith which propelled the Windwards to their fourth straight victory in the tournament, placing them at the top of the Group 'A' table with a maximum 16 points. The Guyanese finished third on eight points.

Smith drew on his wealth of experience to usher the Windwards over the finish line with 25 not out. Bascombe made 22.

West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was the pick of the Guyana bowlers with three wickets for 15 runs from their allotted four overs. Off-spinner Royston Crandon supported with two for 35 from three overs.

The Windwards face the runner-up from Group 'B' in the first semi-final today at the same venue.

Windwards and West Indies captain Darren Sammy captured three for 11 from four overs, earning the Man-of-the-Match award, and left-arm fast bowler Delorn Johnson took three for 40 from four overs as Guyana, sent in to bat, reached 140 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs.

Top score

Guyana captain Christopher Barnwell hit the top score of 32 from 36 balls, and Sewnarine Chattergoon made 27 from 22 deliveries.

When the Windwards started their chase, the match was already running behind time, following the late finish of the previous match between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, which was also affected by the weather, and two interruptions for rain totalling an hour during the Guyana innings.

Another stoppage for rain lasted about 15 minutes after the first over, which meant the Windwards' target was revised under the D/L Method before Charles and Bascombe returned after the interruption to give the Windwards their now customary brisk start.

GUYANA (20 overs maximum)

D. Bishoo did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-58, 3-58, 4-72, 5-100, 6-100, 7-100, 8-122.

Bowling: Peters 1-0-18-0, Mathurin 4-0-28-1, Johnson 4-0-40-3,
Sebastien 3-0-14-0,Sammy 4-0-11-3, Shillingford 4-0-23-0.

WINDWARD ISLANDS (target: 119 off 16 overs)

K. Lesporis, L. Sebastien, D. Johnson, K. Peters did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-52, 3-88, 4-112, 5-116.

Bowling: Jacobs 3-0-25-0, Permaul 3-0-16-0, Bishoo 4-0-15-3,
Crandon 3-0-35-2,Barnwell 3-0-14-0.

Result: Windwards won by five wickets (D/L Method)

Points: Windwards 4, Guyana 0

Toss: Windwards

Man of the Match: D. Sammy (Windwards)

Umpires: V. Bullen, J. Wilson TV umpire: P. Nero