Leg-spinner Anthony Martin snared a career-best seven-wicket haul yesterday to shatter Guyana and spur the Leeward Islands to their first win in 2009 West Indies Cricket Board Regional Four-day tournament.
Narsingh Deonarine and Roy-ston Crandon struck half-centuries and staged a century partnership but after they were separated, Guyana caved in and were dismissed for 231 before tea on the final day at Grove Park, chasing 242 for victory.
Five-wicket burst
Martin, a 26-year-old Antiguan, produced a five-wicket burst after lunch to record magnificent figures of seven for 81 off 30.4 overs with eight maidens, as the Leewards, who were led on first innings, snapped a two-game losing streak.
"I am feeling so good right now and I don't even know what to say," an elated Martin told CMC Sport after the game.
"I just had a good feeling out there and I told myself that I had to do it. The team was depending on me to put in the work and I did," added Martin after sending Guyana to their third consecutive loss.
The come-from-behind triumph earned the Leewards maximum points and lifted them from sixth to fifth in the standings on 16 points, putting them ahead of Combined Campuses and Colleges (12) and Guyana (4).
Needing a further 206 runs for victory, visiting Guyana picked up from their overnight 36 for two and battled to add 90 runs in the morning session for the loss of two wickets.
Nightwatchman Trevon Garraway made a valuable contribution of 32 to boost Guyana's hopes.
Opener Shemroy Barrington was the first to go, falling - caught behind - for 20 when he pushed at a delivery from pacer Gavin Tonge at 57 for three.
It became 74 for four when Garraway was trapped leg before wicket playing back to Martin.
Experienced players
The experienced Deonarine, joined by Royston Crandon, steered Guyana to a fighting lunchtime position of 126 for four, 116 runs adrift of victory.
Deonarine and Crandon appeared to be guiding Guyana to victory with a 101-run fifth-wicket partnership but the visitors' position declined rapidly after Martin dislodged Deonarine for 56 off 77 balls.
Martin then dislodged Royston Crandon (52) at 196 for six and also sent back Derwin Christian (0) and Steven Jacobs (22) in a pivotal period before tea.