Windwards secure semi-final spot

Johnson Charles helped knock two-time champions Guyana out.

By (CMC/EZS) | Fri, January 20, 2012 - 1:02 PM

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 Friday.

Charles continued his rich vein of form in the tournament, smashing three fours and three sixes from 43 balls, as 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 that propelled Windwards to their fourth straight victory in the tournament, placing them at the top of the Group-A table with a maximum 16 points.

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

The Windwards face the runner-up from Group-B – which will be determined later on Friday – in the first semi-final on Saturday at the same venue.

Windwards and West Indies captain Darren Sammy had 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.

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

In Friday's matches, Jamaica, with two wins already, will be seeking a third victory when they play the Netherlands at 4 p.m. to secure a semi-final spot. This match will be followed by a clash between hosts Barbados and the Combined Campuses and Colleges at 8 p.m.