The final match in the 2018 edition of the Leeward Islands 50 overs cricket competition, was played on Tuesday 25th September. Antigua and Barbuda engaged home team, Montserrat.
It was a much anticipated encounter and even though the home team had lost to Anguilla the previous day, in a game filled with much drama, the Government gave a public holiday so that the population could go out to support their team.
They came out in their numbers but they were to be sorely disappointed with the end results.
Antigua and Barbuda won the toss and batted first. They were soon off to a rocky start, much to the jubilation of the home crowd.
1 for 5, soon became 2 for 6 then 3 for 7. The home crowd was bubbling with the anticipation of an early finish.
Enter the big man.
Skipper Rahkeem Cornwall came to the crease, with his team dicely placed on 47 for 4 and he proceeded to dominate proceedings from thereon.
At the conclusion of the 47 over of the rain curtailed fixture, he was left undefeated, like the proverbial cheese standing alone, on 118. By that time he had clubbed 7 fours and all of 10 huge maximums, in his 80 balls stay at the crease!
He got his team to a competitive 245 for 9.
Another rain delay, forced a change to the target set for the Montserrat team and they started in similar fashions to their opponents-
1 for 6 then 2 for 7. However, a partnership between the in-form Peters and Burns, raised some semblance of hope for the home fans, even though Burns batted out of character, in a truly painstaking knock.
Eventually the home fans knew that the fat lady was somewhere close and she was not singing in their choir, as the Antigua and Barbuda team, tightened the screws.
The Montserrat team gave up the ghost, as they limped to 96 for 7 in the allotted 37 overs.
Antigua and Barbuda had won by a convincing margin and small wonder Captain Rahkeem Cornwall, was named man of the match.
Summarized scores: Antigua and Barbuda: 245 for 9 in 47 overs: Rahkeem Cornwall 118*; Fernandez 26; Peters 24
Zawandi White 4 for 38; D. Williams 2 for 60; Baker, Jacobs and Boatswain 1 wicket each
Montserrat: 96 for 7 In 37 overs: D. Baker 28*; J. Peters 26
James 2 for 16; J. Fernandez 2 for 20; K. Gore 1 for 22
St. Kitts would have previously been declared as the clear cut champions of the tournament, after their impressive run.