Chanderpaul guides Guyana to first-innings lead

Shivnarine Chanderpaul led Guyana to a first-innings lead with an unbeaten half-century against Leeward Islands at the National Cricket Centre. Starting the day 148 runs behind Leewards' first-innings total of 192, Guyana were lifted by Chanderpaul's steady batting. He was well supported by Gajanand Singh (40), Assad Fudadin (45) and Derwin Christian (45), they closed the day on 266 for 9 with spinner Anthony Martin taking four wickets in the final session. Chanderpaul was still at the crease on 89 and his partner Brandon Bess will do well to assist him to a well-deserved hundred, strengthening Guyana's position in turn.

With a little help from their opponents Windwards Islands, the spin duo Amit Jaggernauth and Imran Khan earned first-innings advantage for Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) as they managed a lead of 75 runs in Port-of-Spain. It was only a 39-run last-wicket stand between Deighton Butler and Kenroy Peters that made the total less shambolic. Khan, the tournament's leading wicket-taker and offspinner Jaggernauth shared seven wickets among them and cashed in on the numerous errors made by the Windwards batsmen, who failed to get going after beginning the day on 23 for 1. Openers Justin Guillen and Adrian Barath then furthered the advantage with a 101-run stand, which took their overall lead to 211.

Barbados tightened their control in the clash against defending champions Jamaica in Trinidad. Resuming on 113 for 1, Barbados took the lead courtesy Sulieman Benn's impressive 59-ball 54 late on after a middle-order collapse. Barbados then returned to stun the Jamaicans, taking four wickets towards the end to drive home their second innings advantage of 67 runs.