Sammy rips Leewards top order

ST. THOMAS: Fast medium pacer Darren Sammy ripped out the Leeward Islands’ top and middle order to give the Windward Islands the advantage on the first day of their fifth round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match at the Cancryn Ground yesterday. Sammy captured five for 41 off 15 overs as the Leewards declined from the relatively strong position of 117 for one to reach 252 for eight at the close after they had won the toss and batted.  The tall 21-year-old seamer bowled with controlled accuracy and got some movement on a newly-laid bare pitch to make life difficult for the home side’s batsmen.

Openers Shane Jeffers and Tonito Willett, who both benefited from dropped catches, struck half centuries as they took the Leewards to lunch at 93 without loss. Then Sammy first removed Willett for 51 when his attempted drive took an inside edge and dislodged his bails. Willett struck four fours and also smashed a six, sweeping off-spinner Shane Shillingford over the boundary at backward square leg.