Windies Cruise To Victory

Sarwan - Leading From The Front.

Despite a brief wobble at the top of the order, West Indies comfortably defeated Bermuda in their opening game of the Associates Tri-series in Canada.

Xavier Marshall (0) and Sewnarine Chattergoon (7) were both dismissed within the first five overs as the men from the Caribbean set about chasing down a total of 159.

Leon Johnson got them moving in the right direct with a quick fire 27 off 28 before Shawn Findlay carried on the brisk scoring rate with 41 from just 35 deliveries. Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (49) and debutant Brendan Nash (27) saw the West Indies home without any further trouble.

Earlier in the day the Windies were dealt an early blow when Fidel Edwards was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

The attack did not seem to feel any ill effect from the loss of the pace man, as they restricted Bermuda to just 158 from their fifty overs.

Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller was the chief destroyer, finishing with figures of 3/19. 20-year-old Barbadian Kemar Roach (who like Johnson was making his debut) chipped in with 2 wickets for 29.

Chris Douglas contributed a well-played 53 to the Bermuda cause, his second half-centuary of the tournament, but only Dwayne Leverock who finished with 20* provided any support.

The West Indies face Canada on Friday before the tournament concludes with the final on Sunday.