NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) — Barbados crushed hapless Leeward Islands by an innings and 49 runs inside three days here yesterday, to leave themselves with a slim chance of winning the WICB President’s Trophy.

Starting the day needing to accumulate as many points as possible, Barbados steamrolled the Leewards for 183 all out just before lunch, to walk away with 17 points from the Regional Four-Day encounter at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

The victory took them to 82 points ahead of pre-series leaders Trinidad and Tobago who started with 72 points and are playing Guyana in Georgetown.

Barbados were spearheaded by speedster Fidel Edwards who claimed four for 24, while off-spinner Ashley Nurse took three for 94 and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, two for 52.

Once again Devon Thomas led the Leewards fight with a top score of 60, but failed to find major support from his teammates. Captain Kieran Powell added just eight to his overnight 23, while Jahmar Hamilton chipped in with 29.

The Leewards finished the preliminary round with 42 points.

Resuming the day on 54 for two, the Leewards suffered an early setback when Powell was taken at slip by Benn off Nurse, with the score on 66.

Thomas, yet to score at the start of the day, then combined with Hamilton to resist the Barbados attack, in a 58-run fourth-wicket partnership.

The right-handed Thomas spent a shade over two hours at the crease, faced 94 deliveries and hit nine fours, while Hamilton counted four boundaries in his crisp 54-ball knock.

The stand was looking ominous when Hamilton drove Nurse to Edwards at mid-off to depart, and Jaison Peters (15) hung around for nearly half-hour to add 31.

Wickets then tumbled as the end came swiftly for the Leewards, Fidel Edwards grabbing three of the five wickets that fell for 26 runs.