Bangladesh 'A' almost blew their chance of registering their first victory in the Busta Cup, triumphing over Windward Islands in the sixth round by a slender margin of eight runs. But the visitors could not have espoused too many hopes of a win when, put in to bat, they made only 163 in their first innings at St Vincent.

But Naimur Rahman returned brilliant figures of 26.1-14-31-5 as his side bowled out Windwards for 151, garnering a first-innings lead of 12 runs. The batsmen, inspired, hit up 288 in their second innings, with Mazharul Haque making 90 and Tushar Imran 79. This set Windwards a target of 301, and Junior Murray delivered many scares in making 125 before falling as the final wicket with the score on 292. Mosaddek Hossain took five wickets this time around, helping Bangladesh 'A' to the victory. Imran was picked as Man of the Match.

At St Elizabeth, Jamaica, the hosts registered a comfortable seven- wicket win over Trinidad & Tobago. Put in to bat, the visitors made only 132 in their first innings, with skipper Richard Smith being the sole significant contributor with 64. Jamaica, in reply, piled up 298, with Robert Samuels making 65 and Gareth Breese scoring 83.

The 166-run lead was too much for Trinidad & Tobago to handle; despite making 282 in their second innings, they could only set Jamaica a target of 117. It took only 23.1 overs for Jamaica to knock off the runs, aided by a fine 62 from Chris Gayle at the top of the order. Breese was named Man of the Match.

The batsmen dominated the match between Barbados and Leeward Islands at Anguilla, with the match being drawn and Leewards picking up six points. Batting first, Barbados posted 373, with Floyd Reifer making 82, Philo Wallace 59, and Suleiman Benn 59. Despite Goldwyn Prince's five wickets for Leewards, it looked as if Barbados had the upper hand at that point.

But Stuart Williams, in splendid form throughout this tournament, finally carried out his threat of hitting a big one. Making 195 at the top of the order, the Leewards skipper was assisted first by fellow opener Fabian Adams (68) and then by Runako Morton (61). Ridley Jacobs also hit 51 further down the order, before Leewards were bowled out for 502, Benn taking six wickets.

Barbados' reply was just as forbidding. Wallace hit another fifty, but the star this time around was D Smith, who made 102 and, along with Courtney Browne (85) and Benn (61), made sure that his side did not collapse to an innings defeat. Barbados ended the match on 381/9, Benn scooping the Man of the Match award ahead of Williams.

Rain ruined what was potentially an exciting match at Albion, Guyana, with West Indies 'B' taking six points from the drawn encounter. The visitors made 415 after being put in to bat, Donovan Pagon making 110, and Roland Holder, Patrick Browne and A Sealy all making fifties. The first innings was interrupted by rain as no play was possible at all on the second day.

Guyana responded disastrously, bowled out for 216 and being forced to follow on. But the second essay saw their batsmen do better. Azeemul Haniff made 51 and Lennox Cush an unbeaten 100; Guyana ended the fourth day on 190/3, but it would have been interesting to see who would have won if the second day had not been rained out - West Indies 'B' on the strength of their first-innings total, or Guyana bowling last on the track. Pagon was named Man of the Match.

© CricInfo