Descartes all-round performance leads Saint Lucia to victory

Defending champions Saint Lucia, led by an all-round performance from Shadrack Descartes, handed perennial rivals St Vincent & the Grenadines a three-wicket defeat at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on Thursday in the Windward Islands Senior Men 50-Over Tournament. There was also good support with the bat from Ackeem Auguste and Vernillius Gabriel, which ensured the hosts jumped to the top of the leaderboard. Earlier in the day, having won the toss, St Vincent & the Grenadines decided to take first strike and reached 199-8 off 40 overs. Their innings was held up by skipper Sunil Ambris with 81, Dillon Douglas 45, and Kenneth Denbar 19. Wednesday centurion Desron Maloney only managed 12, with Asif Hooper 11. The rest of the Vincentian batting looked like an area code of single digit scores, and extras contributed 15. But it was 26-year-old Descartes who stole the show with the ball, taking 4-36 from eight overs. Giving able support was Dillan John 2-43, Larry Edward 1-26, and Keon Gaston 1-36. In response, Saint Lucia was in early trouble, as Kimani Melius was dismissed by Rayon Williams, then Noelle Leo fell to Asif Hooper’s military left-arm spin. Each added one run, and the score...