SCARBOROUGH, Tobago – Half-centuries from Anil Matthew and Emmanuel Stewart formalised a tense, five-wicket victory for Windward Islands over Barbados, moving them to the top of the table in the Regional Under-17 Tournament on Sunday here.

Opener Matthew carried his bat for the top score of an unbeaten 83 and Stewart made 75, as the Windwards, chasing 191 for victory, reached their target with four balls remaining in their fourth round match at Shaw Park in the Tobago capital.

None of the bowlers from sub-regional side distinguished themselves, but Joshua Mann grabbed 2-28 from 10 overs, as they restricted the Barbadians to 190 for eight in their allocation of 50 overs.

Similarly, half-centuries from Brandon Maharaj and Keegan Simmons carried hosts and previous champions Trinidad & Tobago to their first victory of this year’s tournament, when they prevailed over Leeward Islands by three wickets at Louis D’Or.

A half-century from Adrian Sukwah, along with handy all-round performances from Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford swept Guyana to a 139-run victory over Jamaica at Bon Accord, enhancing their title chances.

At Shaw Park: Matthew struck seven fours from 139 balls and Stewart smashed the same number of boundaries from 123 balls to put the Windwards on course for victory.

They came together after Christian Charlery was lbw to Dominic Drakes for a duck with the final ball of the first over and put on 146 for the second wicket before Stewart fell in the 41st over.

Stewart’s dismissal triggered a bit of nerves among the Windwards’ batsmen and they stumbled to 178 for five in the 47th over.

Matthew kept his composure however, and farmed the strike to take the Windwards over the finish line for a memorable victory.

Yvan Grant collected three fours and three sixes and collected his second straight half-century of the Tournament of 59 from 86 balls and Drakes added 43 not out from 40 balls with two fours and two sixes to prop up the Barbados batting.

Grant added a valuable 58 for the fifth wicket, after the Barbadians slumped to 58 for four in the 24th over, and Drakes held the lower-order together to help them add a bit of respectability.

At Louis D’Or: Maharaj cracked four fours and one six in 65 from 110 balls and Simmons counted four fours in 53 from 75 balls to ease the pressure on the home team, after their meek surrender in the first three matches.

They added 105 for the second wicket before Maharaj and Kirstan Kallicharran with 33 put them firmly on track for a favourable result.

There was a bit of self-doubt coming towards the close, but their captain Bryan Boodram with 28 not out, and Nathaniel McDavid with 12 not out carried them safely to the finish.

Earlier, Ross Powell had led the way with 75 from 102 balls that included 10 fours and three sixes and Dmitri Adams supported with seven fours and two sixes in 62 from 108 balls, as Leewards posted a competitive 243 for nine from their 50 overs.

Adams joined Powell and put on 101 for the second wicket, but there was little stability from the rest of the batting, as they added 100 in the last 15 overs for the loss of eight wickets.

Boodram started a satisfactory day with 4-48 from 10 overs.

At Bon Accord: Paul snared 4-28 from seven overs, Rutherford grabbed 3-17 from six overs and Richie Looknauth took 2-20 from eight overs, as Jamaica, chasing 226 for victory, were bowled out for 86 in 27 overs.

A resolute 59 that included eight boundaries from 100 balls from opener Adrian Sukwah led a solid batting effort from the Guyanese that allowed them to take their first steps towards victory.

Jamaica captain Michael Frew was the pick of his side’s bowler with 3-51 from his allotted 10 overs.

● For Barbados vs Windwards scorecard, click here: http://ow.ly/z63OG

● For Guyana vs Jamaica scorecard, click here: http://ow.ly/z63Uk

● For Leewards vs T&T scorecard, click here: http://ow.ly/z63IL

(WICB)