Anguilla claimed their fourth win in as many games on Thursday to book their spot in the final of the inaugural Leeward Islands Cricket Board’s (LICB) T20 Festival in Antigua.
The Anguillans maintained their status as the only unbeaten team in the six-team round-robin tournament by pulling off a 39-run victory against Nevis at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Set 186 to win, Nevis was dismissed for 146 in 18.3 overs. Opener Ross Powell top scored for the Nevisians with a knock of 73 off 49 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.
However, Powell got very little support from the rest of his teammates. Andros Bowens snapped up three wickets for five runs, pacer Chamiqueko Landerfort picked up three for 28, and Shivnarine Benjamin captured two for 29.
Opener Jahmar Hamilton narrowly missed out on achieving the first century of the tournament as Anguilla made 185 for four off their allotted 20 overs after losing the toss and being sent in to bat.
Hamilton struck his third half-century in four innings by smashing 96 off 60 balls, including eight sixes and five fours.
Anguilla’s captain Dimitri Adams also cracked a half-century with an unbeaten 54 off 32 balls, including four sixes and three fours. Opener Chesney Hughes chipped in with 20 off 24 balls. Pacer Colin Archibald picked up three for 20 off his four overs.
The result carries Anguilla to an unassailable 16 points from four matches. Nevis remains in third place on eight points after suffering their second loss in four matches.
The Anguillans will face the Combined Islands (Montserrat and St. Maarten), while Nevis will take on St. Kitts on Saturday in their last encounters in the preliminary stage.
Anguilla will face either host Antigua and Barbuda or Nevis in the final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday.
