After winning their first two matches, host Antigua and Barbuda suffered their first defeat in the inaugural Leeward Islands Cricket Board’s (LICB) T20 Festival on Tuesday.
The Antigua and Barbuda senior men’s team recorded convincing wins against St. Kitts and Nevis but crashed to an 11-run defeat against Anguilla in a top-of-the-table clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS).
The Anguillans kept their unbeaten run intact and claimed their third win in as many games by scoring 157 for four off their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Opener Jahmar Hamilton slammed 52 off 28 balls, including six fours and four sixes. Deon Burton struck an unbeaten 30 off 29 balls, and Jaidel Richardson scored 27 not out off 17 balls, including two sixes and a four.
Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr. picked up two for 29 in four overs.
Anguilla managed to successfully defend their total by dismissing Antigua and Barbuda for 146 in 19.3 overs to remain the only unbeaten team in the six-team round-robin tournament.
Most of the Antiguan batters got into double figures but were unable to convert their knocks into big scores.
Michael Haynes Dover top scored with 38 off 33 balls, vice-captain Karima Gore hammered 27 off 17 balls, including three sixes, D’Ahri Francis struck 23 off 11 balls, and opener Kofi James cracked 18 off 11 balls.
Shivnarine Benjamin snapped up three for 15, Andros Bowens bagged three for 25, and Jaidel Richardson picked up three for 36.
Anguilla, who have also claimed wins against the Combined Virgin Islands (British and United States) and St. Kitts, will seek to extend their unbeaten run when the tournament continues with three matches on Thursday.
The Anguillans will take on Nevis at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at 11 am, Antigua and Barbuda will meet the Combined Islands (Montserrat and St. Maarten) at the Pigotts playing field at 2:30 pm, and St. Kitts will clash with the Combined Virgin Islands at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at 3 pm.
