Guyana Rainforest Rangers bowlers Jediah Blades and Nial Smith top the wicket-taking charts after three matches in the inaugural West Indies Breakout League.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) site shows Blades currently leading the competition with seven wickets, closely followed by team-mate Smith, who has taken six. Their performances have been standout contributions in what has otherwise been a difficult start to the tournament for Guyana, who have lost all three of their opening fixtures.
Blades has also recorded one of the best bowling figures of the tournament so far, taking 3 for 25 in an innings, while Smith is close behind with 3 for 28. Only three bowlers have bettered those figures: Nathan Edward (Leeward Islands Titans), who tops the list with 5 for 27; Darel Cyrus (Windward Islands Infernos) with 4 for 37; and Anderson Mahase (Leeward Islands Titans), who claimed 3 for 16.
Chasing the Guyana duo in the overall wicket standings are Trinidad and Tobago Legions pair Jayden Layne and Joshua James, with six and five wickets respectively. Edward also features prominently with five wickets overall, rounding out the top five.
However, James has been suspended from bowling in all West Indies international and regional matches after being found to have an illegal bowling action during the ongoing competition. The 23-year-old pacer was reported by match officials following his side’s opening fixtures against the Barbados Pelicans on 25 April and the Guyana Rainforest Rangers on 26 April.
Now in its debut season, the Breakout League was launched to showcase emerging talent from across the Caribbean. Despite Guyana’s struggles in the standings, Blades and Smith have remained consistent threats with the ball and have kept their side competitive in tightly contested matches.
The Rangers will be hoping their bowling attack can continue to shine as they prepare for their next fixture against the Windward Islands Infernos on May 4 — another chance to turn individual brilliance into a much-needed team result.
