Tarouba, Trinidad – A scintillating display of batting mastery by the Windward Islands Volcanoes breathed life into their faint hopes of reaching the Regional Super50 playoffs, as they secured a commanding 98-run victory (via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method) over the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Wednesday.
The Volcanoes’ top order set the stage with a sparkling performance. Alick Athanaze, Sunil Ambris, and Kavem Hodge delivered stellar half-centuries, propelling their side to a formidable 307 for seven in a rain-shortened 44-over contest.
Opening the innings with intent, Athanaze and Stephan Pascal orchestrated a blistering 127-run partnership in just 18 overs. Pascal fell for a brisk 41, undone by leg-spinner Abhijai Mansingh, but the damage was already evident. Athanaze, the top scorer with a classy 77 off 75 balls, including 12 fours and a six, was removed shortly after by pacer Akeem Jordan, leaving the score at 152 for two.
The momentum was sustained by Hodge (50) and Ambris, whose aggressive 70 off 63 balls included eight boundaries. Their 83-run stand for the third wicket kept the Volcanoes firmly in control, with late cameos from Dillon Douglas and Darel Cyrus adding the finishing touches to an already imposing total.
Marooners crumble under pressure
The Marooners, chasing a daunting target, started cautiously but collapsed dramatically after a promising middle-order resistance. At 124 for three in the 25th over, they appeared to be in the hunt, with Jonathan Drakes leading the charge with a gritty 55 off 68 balls.
However, medium pacer Shadrack Descarte wreaked havoc, claiming 4-43 in a destructive spell that included the crucial scalps of Crystian Thurton (18), captain Shamarh Brooks (9), and Amari Goodridge (18). His efforts triggered a calamitous slide, as the Marooners lost five wickets for just 56 runs, ultimately folding for 213 in 36.3 overs.
Descarte received strong support from Darius Martin and Kenneth Dember, who picked up two wickets each to ensure the Volcanoes sealed their emphatic victory.
Playoff prospects remain slim but possible
With this win, the Volcanoes climb to sixth place on the table with 29 points. However, their path to the semi-finals remains arduous, as they trail the fourth-placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes by eight points. The Hurricanes still have two matches in hand, while the Volcanoes have just one game remaining.
Despite the uphill battle, the Volcanoes’ captain praised the team’s performance and their refusal to give up. “This was a crucial win for us, and I’m proud of how we executed today. Our batting laid the platform, and the bowlers finished the job. We’ll keep fighting to the end,” he said.
