The win pushed Barbados to six points and kept their title hopes alive ahead of today's final match against Trinidad and Tobago.

Requiring a challenging 228 for victory, the Windward Islands were dismissed by the 43rd over.

The defending champions were given a purposeful opening stand of 58 by Sunil Ambris (55) and Emmanuel Peter. However, off-spinner Daniel Rogers broke through by having Peter caught for 23, including five fours.

In the same over Dwight Thomas went without scoring as he gave a catch to Kraigg Brathwaite. Ambris kept them in the hunt with an authoritative 64-ball knock until he fell to Shane Parris.

The dismissal brought about a middle-order collapse and the Windward Islands limped to 162 for nine. However, the last-wicket pair of Bronte Bess and Larry Edwards breathed life back into the game with an entertaining partnership of 38.

Medium-pacer Kyle Mayers claimed the last three wickets to finish with three for 13. There were two wickets each for Anthony Alleyne and Neil Browne.

Earlier, Brathwaite continued his dominance with a well-played 81, including six fours, off 126 balls. His knock carried his aggregate to 302 runs – the most in the tournament so far.

He has now surpassed the 261 runs made in last year's tournament in Trinidad and Tobago where he was the MVP.

Brathwaite and Anthony Alleyne put Barbados on course for the winning total with an enterprising opening stand of 114 in 29 overs.

Alleyne, whose knock included three fours, fell three short of a half-century. Brathwaite was fourth out with the score on 164, stumped for the second successive time.

Summarised scores

Barbados 227-5 in 50 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 81, Anthony Alleyne 47, Neil Browne 37 n.o., Shane Parris 19, Kyle Mayers 12).

Windward Islands 200 all out in 42.1 overs (Sunil Ambris 55, Bronte Bess 30, Emmanuel Peter 23, Jamaal James 21, Kaven Hodge 19, Jerlani Robinson 10; Kyle Mayers 3-13, Anthony Alleyne 2-29, Neil Browne 2-42). Barbados won by 27 runs.