Leewards win two-run thriller

Chasing 245 runs from their allocation of 50 overs, TT required three runs from the final over, and Leewards captain Sylvester Joseph entrusted Tonge with the responsibility of being his side’s hero.

With his first delivery — a fast, straight, full-length ball — Tonge forced Denesh Ramdin onto the backfoot and to play across the line, and gained a palpable leg before wicket verdict from umpire Eddie Nicholls.

It was the Leewards’ second win of the competition, following a nine-wicket triumph over Jamaica in the opening round, and a tie against Guyana in the second round.

For TT, the reigning champions of the West Indies limited-overs competition, it was their third straight defeat, and leaves their chances of qualifying for the Final Four in Guyana next week nothing short of a lottery.

TT captain Daren Ganga hit four fours and one six in the top score for his side of 62 from 97 balls.

Omari Banks was the most successful Leewards bowler with three wickets for 25 runs from ten overs, and Tonge took two for 60 from 9.1 overs. Leewards built their total upon half-centuries from Runako Morton, who was named "Man-of-the-Match", Tonito Willett, and Wilden Cornwall.

Morton hit just two fours and one six to lead the way with 75 from 115 balls and shared a century, fourth-wicket partnership with Cornwall, whose 59 from 65 balls contained half-dozen fours and one six.

But Willett’s 61 from 56 balls that included five fours and two sixes beefed up the Leewards’ total, after they had dipped to 198 for five in the 45th over.

Ravi Rampaul snared three wickets for 41 runs from ten overs, while Sherwin Ganga and Mervyn Dillon collected two apiece.

TT subsided to 187 for eight in the 42nd over before Ramdin, who struck three boundaries in 48 from 73 balls, added 41 for the ninth wicket with Ravi Rampaul to give their side a chance.

Rampaul however, was run out in the 48th over, backing up too far, for 31 from 25 balls that included four fours, leaving Ramdin and Dillon to bring the bacon home for TT. But Tonge snuffed out their hopes of a first win with his lethal strike.

TT had got away to a flying start, but lost Sherwin Ganga caught behind for six off Curtis Roberts in the fourth over.

Just when TT appeared to be getting on top, Leewards snared three wickets in the space of eight overs to slow their progress.

Simmons was caught behind off Kerry Jeremy for 31 in the 11th over, Dwayne Bravo was caught and bowled by Carl Simon for three in the 14th over, and Mahabir was also caught behind off Tonge for four in the 19th over. Ricardo Powell came to the wicket and played a typically enterprising knock of 30 off 28 balls that included four fours and one six.

He added 43 with Daren Ganga to consolidate his side’s position, but TT were set back again, when Banks bowled Powell behind his back in the 28th over.

TT continued to persevere with Ganga adding 42 with Ramdin for the sixth wicket before he was run out in the 27th over backing up too far. Ganga was the first of three wickets that tumbled for 14 in the space of eight overs that put TT under pressure from which they never recovered.

Leewards lead the competition with 11 points, and tackle hosts Barbados today at the Police Sports Club (Weymouth-A).

TT are locked at the bottom of the table on no points with winless Jamaica against whom they play today at the Cable & Wireless Sports Club (Wildey).