By: T. Chapman
Akeem Saunders registered the first century of the Leeward Islands 50 over tournament by scoring an unbeaten 131 from 125 balls as defending champions St. Kitts set host Antigua 241 to win. They concluded their innings on 240-9 then they bowled Antigua out for 225, thus winning by 15 runs.
Saunders muscled 10 sixes and 4 fours in total and single handedly steered his team’s innings with wickets falling steadily. Numerous players scored double digits with the highest being 16 from Jeremiah Louis.
The pick of the Antigua bowling attack were Alzarri Joseph, Justin Athanaze, Hayden Walsh and Rahkeem Cornwall. They all got two wickets each.
Chasing 241 to win, the aggressive Devon Thomas took the attack to St. Kitts as Antigua were off to a decent start, 38-0. Thomas lost his partner Kofi James for 9 but continued to form solid partnerships with Cornwall, (37) and Peters, (45) before he departed.
Elvin Berridge had gotten the danger man. At 205 for 5 and Thomas gone, the game was evenly poised.
Three quick wickets for 5 runs and just like that St. Kitts was in control. Benta, Phillip and Athanaze all gone for naught.
Great fielding by Louis to run out Benta and fine bowling by Damion Jacobs and Terrance Warde gave St. Kitts the edge.
Both Jacobs and Warde bagged three wickets each.
St. Kitts bowled out Antigua for 225, winning by 15 runs.
