The 2010 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) 50 overs title will be shared after yesterday’s riveting, low-scoring championship match between Barbados and Leeward Islands fittingly ended in a tie at Sabina Park.

Out-of-favour West Indies pacer Lionel Baker took five wickets to spur the Leeward Islands team, which managed to dismiss Barbados for 139 in 38 overs to leave the scores level.

Batting first, Leewards had surrendered on 139 for nine with number eight batsman Justin Athanaze being forced to retire hurt in the 33rd over after suffering from heat exhaustion.

However, the victory target of 140 proved an uphill task for Barbados’ batsmen, as Baker bowled with decent pace and tremendous accuracy to send panic throughout the top order.

Baker accounted for Dale Richards, captain Ryan Hinds and Jonathan Carter in his first spell to leave Barbados in dire straits at 54 for five.

Knowing that they needed to score at less than three runs an over to complete the win, Kirk Edwards and wicketkeeper batsman Carlo Morris remained watchful to stage a recovery that brought Barbados back into the game.

During that time Leewards’ captain Wilden Cornwall dropped an easy chance when Edwards drove in the air to extra-cover with the score on 82.

It took the return of Baker in his second spell to break the crucial 47-run sixth-wicket partnership when he bowled Morris for 26.

Two runs later, Edwards was given another reprieve when Chesney Hughes spilled a difficult chance, running in from the deep.

To their credit, the Leewards never gave up and eventually reaped further success to leave the scores tied with two Bajan wickets still standing.

With just one run to win, Edwards was sensationally bowled by pacer Gavin Tonge for a solid 44 off 90 balls to set up a tense finale.

A few deliveries later and with 12 overs still remaining, the last pair of Kemar Roach and Tino Best inexplicably attempted a quick single, which resulted in the latter being run-out by Jamar Hamilton’s direct throw.

Baker ended with five wickets for 33 runs off 10 overs, while Tonge took two for 33 off six. Wrist spinner Anthony Martin, who opened the bowling with Tonge was also instrumental in building pressure while taking a lone wicket for 26 runs in nine tight overs.

Earlier when the Leewards batted, Cornwall was the only shining light as his team struggled to contend with the pace of Best and the guile of part-time spinner Ryan Hinds.

Cornwall belted a typically attacking 43 off 49 balls, but after his dismissal at 106 for six the Leeward Islands folded meekly to leave Barbados with what appeared at the time to be a gettable target.

Best took four for 28 off six overs and five balls, while Hinds grabbed three for 30 off 10.

At the end, the battling Leewards were left celebrating as if they had won outright, while Barbados were rendered shell-shocked after losing their last four wickets for 15 runs.

While the Barbados coaching staff may have been disappointed with the suicidal attempt of the winning run, the supporters at the ground were left buzzing after a remarkable game which swung from side to side all day.

Scoreboard

LEEWARD ISLANDS (maximum 50 overs)

M Hodge b Best 0

C Hughes c Edwards b Roach 0

J Liburd st Morris b *Hinds 12

S Liburd c Richards b Best 5

*W Cornwall c and b Best 43

J Taylor c wkpr Morris b *Hinds 8

+J Hamilton c Carter b Best 10

J Athanaze retired out 18

G Tonge c wkpr Morris b Hinds 7

L Baker c Smith b Benn 4

A Martin not out 2

Extras (b1, lb1, w26, nb2) 30

TOTAL (all out, 32.5 overs) 139

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Hodge, 0.4 overs); 2-2 (Hughes, 1.5); 3-17 (S Liburd, 4.6); 4-77 (J Liburd, 14.4); 5-87 (Taylor, 18.3); 6-106 (*Cornwall, 24.1); 7-107 (+Hamilton, 24.6); 8-124 (Tonge, 28.3); 9-135 (Baker, 31.3)

Bowling: Best 6.5-1-28-4, Roach 5-0-33-1, *Hinds 10-2-30-3, Searles 8-0-31-0, Benn 3-0-15-1

BARBADOS (target: 140 off 50 overs)

D Richards b Baker 20

J Haynes c wkpr Hamilton b Martin 0

*R Hinds c wkpr Hamilton b Baker 16

K Edwards b Tonge 44

J Carter c S Liburd b Baker 1

DR Smith run out (Cornwall) 4

+C Morris b Baker 26

J Searles c wkpr Hamilton b Tonge 8

S Benn c Martin b Baker 7

K Roach not out 6

T Best run out (+Hamilton) 0

Extras (lb4, w2, nb1) 7

TOTAL (all out, 38 overs) 139

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Haynes, 1.2 overs); 2-28 (Richards, 6.1); 3-46 (*Hinds, 12.2); 4-48 (Carter, 14.5); 5-54 (Smith, 16.4); 6-101 (+Morris, 30.1); 7-124 (Searles, 35.3); 8-131 (Benn, 36.3); 9-139 (Edwards, 37.5)

Bowling: Tonge 6-0-33-2, Martin 9-1-26-1, Baker 10-0-33-5, *Cornwall 3-0-13-0, Taylor 7-0-25-0, S. Liburd 3-0-5-0

Result: Match tied

Series: Barbados and Leewards share the title

Toss: Leewards

Man-of-the-Match: L Baker (Leewards)

Umpires: N Malcolm, P Nero

Reserve umpire: J Wilson