Leewards trail T&T by 17 runs with six second-innings wickets remaining
Barbados 439 (Drakes 94, Chase 84; Mindley 3-62, Smith 3-91) beat Jamaica 142 & 286 (Smith 73, King 63; Bishop 5-72) by an innings and 11 runs
The Barbados Pride have confirmed their place in the 2026 West Indies 4-Day Championship playoffs following a dominant innings and 11-run victory over the Jamaica Scorpions in the third-round contest at Sabina Park.
Led by an impressive five-wicket haul from spinner Joshua Bishop, who claimed 5 for 72, the visitors wrapped up the win just after the Tea interval, dismissing the Scorpions for 286 in 70.4 overs in their second innings.
Jamaica began the day on 22 for one, needing an additional 275 runs to make the Pride bat again after being forced to follow on in response to Barbados’ first-innings total of 439 all out.
All-rounder Odean Smith top-scored for the hosts with 73. He shared in a promising 86-run eighth-wicket stand with Abhijai Mansingh (35). After which, Jamaica scored only six runs.
Brandon King converted his overnight 15 into a half-century (63), with Kirk McKenzie (12) adding just the five runs to his overnight seven.
Jomel Warrican chipped in with figures of 2 for 39 for the Pride, who claimed victory inside three days.
The 2026 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will feature several historic milestones for the tournament. St. Vincent & the Grenadines will host matches for the first time, with the opening fixtures scheduled for the Arnos Vale Stadium.
The competition will feature seven teams, another first. The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Barbados Royals, Jamaica Kingsmen, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Saint Lucia Kings, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots are joined by reigning champions the Trinbago Knight Riders.
The season will consist of 39 matches set to take place from 7 August to 20 September, when Barbados will host its maiden CPL final.
Pete Russell, CEO of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, said: “With an expanded tournament in 2026, we are delighted to be bringing CPL cricket to St Vincent & the Grenadines for the first time. We are equally excited about hosting finals week in Barbados, where we have ambitious plans to deliver the biggest and most memorable finale in the tournament’s 14-year history. Each year, our goal is to raise the bar, and I am more confident than ever that CPL 2026 will be our best season yet.”
The initiative has been expanded to include Barbados
Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies have officially renewed their partnership for the 2026 staging of the Primary Schools ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket Programme, reaffirming their shared commitment to youth development and grassroots cricket across the Caribbean.
Five for Fun, which is entering its sixth year, provides boys and girls aged 7–11 with structured access to the sport. The initiative seeks to introduce children to the fundamentals of the game through a modern and exciting format.
The 2026 season will run from April to September, hosted in Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. This year, the programme continues its regional expansion with the addition of Barbados to the roster.
Leewards 88 for 4 (Gore 60*, Carty 18; Phillip 2-37) trail T&T 522 for 9 dec. (Da Silva 220, Jangoo 83; Gore 4-86) by 434 runs
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Barbados Pride have taken charge of their respective third-round contests in the 2026 West Indies Championship following two days of action, while Guyana Harpy Eagles have been evenly matched by the Volcanoes.
The Red Force restricted the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to 88 for 4 at stumps at the Antigua Recreation Ground, still 434 runs adrift of their first-innings total of 522 for nine declared, despite an unbeaten counter-attacking 60 (69 balls) from Karima Gore.
Anderson Phillip has so far taken figures of 2 for 37, with Khary Pierre (1/5) and Joshua James (1/29) claiming a wicket apiece. Gore and Justin Greaves (4*) will resume batting on Day 3.
Led by a brilliant double-century from captain Joshua Da Silva, the Red Force piled on 275 additional runs earlier in the day before declaring just after Tea. Da Silva converted his overnight score of 72 into a masterful 220, while Amir Jangoo (83) added 14 runs on the day, with Terrance Hinds contributing 44.
Gore led the Leewards' attack with figures of 4 for 86, as Oshane Thomas claimed 2 for 70.
When you meet Kelvin Pitman, you would never believe he is someone who told Courtney Walsh he is coming for his record.
That’s because the Antiguan fast bowler is soft-spoken, grounded and the kind of person whose typical day includes a good breakfast, YouTube videos, some work with his family and relaxing at home.
With the ball in hand though, you get the idea he is someone who has spent years in the unglamorous trenches of sport, long before anyone was watching, working on his craft while inspired by the greats. Growing up in Antigua, the foundation of his development was family, first and always, while his community of Bethesda Village also played its part.
"They always pushed me to do better no matter the circumstance and always believed in me. When I felt down, they always gave me the motivation and encouragement to go out and do better,” he shared.
A lifelong cricket fan, Pitman’s journey to the professional ranks began in earnest when he was selected for the Antigua under-17 side.
