Volcanoes new leaders, but face tough final-round assignment

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The weekend's results in the West Indies Championship have set the stage for an intriguing final round which gets under way on Wednesday.

Windward Islands Volcanoes have returned to the top of the standings on 89.6 points after thrashing West Indies Academy by 153 runs inside three days at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

However, they are less than two points ahead of Barbados Pride, who have moved into second on 87.8 points after a clinical nine-wicket victory over previous leaders Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Port of Spain.

Title-holders Guyana Harpy Eagles, who crushed Jamaica Scorpions by 212 runs in Kingston, are within touching distance of Pride on 87.2 points, while Hurricanes' defeat has left them fourth but still in contention on 82.6 points.

With the title race still wide open as a result, the attention this week will turn to the fixtures facing the top four, with all needing to win.

Front runners Volcanoes perhaps have the most difficult assignment when they take on Hurricanes at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua.

Both teams possess identical records of four wins and two defeats and have produced inconsistent form over the last three rounds.

Pride and Harpy Eagles will be viewed as having the easier routes to the title. Pride clash with West Indies Academy at Coolidge Cricket Ground, the Academy having won only twice in six outings to be one from the bottom of the eight-team standings on 54.2.

Harpy Eagles, meanwhile, who have gone on a run of four straight wins after difficult results in their first two matches, take on winless Combined Campuses and Colleges - who lie bottom on 26.6 points - at the Frank Worrell Memorial Ground at UWI, St Augustine.

In the other game, the Scorpions will look to finish their campaign on a winning note when they host Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Sabina Park.

Scorpions lie sixth on 57 points, while Red Force are fifth on 72.8 points.