ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Guyana Harpy Eagles off-spinner Kevin Sinclair enhanced his reputation with a destructive spell but batsmen once again failed to make a lasting impression when Team Weekes claimed an eight-wicket win against Team Headley in the third and final match of the Headley Weekes Tri-Series on Friday in Antigua.

Sinclair collected five for 48 from 21 overs, and Team Headley were bowled out for 153 in their second innings, about five minutes past the scheduled lunch interval on the third day of the four-day, first class match at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Set 96 to win, Team Weekes hardly broke a sweat reaching the target once openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Zachary McCaskie both scored 33 and shared a first-wicket stand of 61.

Chanderpaul, the West Indies Test opener, and McCaskie, the Barbados Pride opener, both fell before the win was achieved, but Team Weekes Captain Alick Athanaze came to the crease and carried his side over the line with West Indies left-handed all-rounder Raymon Reifer.

The result meant that the inactive West Indies Academy, led by Barbadian all-rounder Nyeem Young, were formally crowned the inaugural champions of the Tri-Series, with Team Weekes second and Team Headley last.

Starting the day on 67 for two, Team Weekes were put into an early wobble when Sinclair struck in the first and third overs of the day.

He got Sunil Ambris caught at long-on for four off the fourth ball of the day after the Windward Islands Volcanoes batsman added only three to his overnight score, and he then trapped Volcanoes wicketkeeper-batsman Tevyn Walcott lbw for a three-ball duck in his next over.

West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman and Team Headley Captain Joshua Da Silva spent 40 minutes in defiance and pushed his side closer to the 100 mark with opener Matthew Nandu.

Harpy Eagles pacer Niall Smith got Nandu caught behind for the top score of 36 from a top-edged hook, and Sinclair trapped Da Silva lbw for 15 in the next over.

Team Headley were 95 for six and they never recovered, losing their last four wickets for 33 in the span of 64 balls.

Scoreboard

TEAM HEADLEY 1st Innings 177

TEAM WEEKES 1st Innings 235

TEAM HEADLEY 2nd Innings

(overnight 67-2)

K Powell c Smith b Drakes 9

M Nandu c Thomas b Smith 36

K Hodge c and b Sinclair 26

S Ambris c Smith b Sinclair 4

T Walcott lbw b Sinclair 0

*+J Da Silva lbw b Sinclair 15

J Greaves not out 25

A Jordan b McAllister 8

A Phillip b Permaul 1

CA Holder lbw b Sinclair 13

M Mindley c Athanaze b Permaul 8

Extras (b7, lb1) 8

TOTAL (all out, 63.1 overs) 153

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-63, 3-71, 4-71, 5-93,

6-95, 7-120, 8-121, 9-138

Bowling: Reifer 4-1-8-0; Smith 9-1-30-1; Drakes

9-2-14-1; McAllister 6-0-25-1; Sinclair 21-5-48-5;

Permaul 13-7-20-2; Chanderpaul 1-1-0-0

TEAM WEEKES 2nd Innings (target: 96)

T Chanderpaul c and b Hodge 33

Z McCaskie c wk Da Silva b Greaves 33

R Reifer not out 19

J Greaves not out 10

Extras (nb1) 1

TOTAL (2 wkts, 26.5 overs) 96

Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-67

Bowling: Jordan 4-1-12-0; C.A. Holder 3-0-19-0;

Mindley 3-2-6-0; Phillip 4-0-16-0; Hodge 7-1-24-1;

Greaves 3-0-13-1; Nandu 2.5-0-6-0

Result: Team Weekes won by eight wickets.

Points: Team Weekes 15, Team Headley 3

Series: West Indies Academy won the Tri-Series.

Umpires: G Brathwaite, L Reifer Jr

Match referee: S Proverbs