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A superb century from Kieran Powell lifted Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a great come-from-behind victory over Barbados Pride on the third day of the third round of matches in the West Indies Championship on Friday.

Starting the day chasing a victory target of 247, Powell top-scored with 104 as the Leewards reached 247-8 to win by two wickets at Queen’s Park Oval on Friday. The experienced left-hander faced 109 balls and struck 11 boundaries and three sixes. His knock was the backbone of the historic run chase as he added a match-winning partnership of 120 with skipper Jahmar Hamilton, who made a crucial 55 off 70 balls with seven boundaries.

The match was set on Thursday when the Leewards bowled their way back from the brink of defeat. Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall was the talisman with 11 wickets in the match as the Leewards rebounded from a first innings deficit of 168 to bowl out the Bajans for 78 and set-up the remarkable run chase. He then had the honor of hitting the winning run when he smashed a boundary over long off to record the close victory.

Speaking after the match, Cornwall was delighted with the results, "At the start of the game we always believed that we could've won. We toiled really hard on the first day but Dowrich put them in front. The second innings we did well with the ball and Kieran did well with the bat. Every season I set myself a target and I take it game by game, so I'm really pleased with the start I've had this season."

Volcanoes on the brink of victory over Scorpions, needing one wicket

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At Guyana National Stadium: The Windward Island Volcanoes need one more wicket on the final day to complete a comprehensive victory over the Jamaican Scorpions. Starting Day 3 needing 415 runs to win, Jamaica finished the day on 233-9. Aldaine Thomas (55), Abhijai Mansingh 50 and Derval Green (48) offered resistance to the Volcanoes bowlers. Thomas struck two sixes in a 96-run partnership with Mansingh.

Justin Greaves picked up where he left off in the first innings with the ball, accounting for the wickets of Leroy Lugg (15) and Green, to end the day with figures of 15-4-42-2. Larry Edward had figures of 33-11-65-2 when he picked up Nkrumah Bonner (17) and top-scorer Thomas. Fast bowler Shermon Lewis cleaned up the Scorpions. He dismissed Kirk McKenzie (1), Paul Palmer (21), Jamie Merchant (5) and Marquino Mindley (0) to end the day with figure of 14-6-22-4.

Savory hits maiden century as leaders Guyana push for win

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At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force need a further 306 runs for victory heading into the final day against Guyana Harpy Eagles. Skipper Leon Johnson and Kemol Savory built the Harpy Eagles innings thanks to a 141-run partnership. Savory struck his maiden first-class century, finishing on 101 not out when Johnson declared. He faced 222 balls and struck five fours and a six. Johnson himself brought up a second half-century of the match before he was dismissed for 74 off 158 balls striking 10 boundaries and six in the process.

The Harpy Eagles declared with the score on 247-6 a lead of 411 just after the lunch break. The Red Force run chase got off to a disastrous start as Keemo Paul got the wickets of Keagan Simmons (8) and Jason Mohammed (13), and Niall Smith accounted for Jeremy Solozano to leave them on 70-3 inside 20 overs.

Captain Darren Bravo then struck seven fours on his way to ending the day on 63 not out and with him Jyd Goolie on 14 not out as they will resume the final day. Paul ended the day with figures of 10-0-38-2 and Smith 8-2-21-1.

Play in the remaining two matches resumes on Saturday at 10am (9am Jamaica Time).

Fans can stream all West Indies Championship matches live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel https://bit.ly/streamwichamps2023 and access live ball-by-ball scoring at http://windiescricket.com/ match centre.

Following the Championship, the new Headley/Weekes Series will feature three teams and matches, drawing from top performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The Series will run from 18 April to 6 May at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

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