GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC:

Leg-spinner Steven Sankar's five-wicket haul undermined Windward Islands but Guyana stumbled and stuttered before pulling off a four-wicket victory in their second-round match of the Regional Under-19 Championship yesterday.

Resuming the final day at Everest on 79 for four, the Windwards were dismissed for 165, with Sankar finishing with five for 53 and off-spinner Sharaz Ramcharran, three for 44.

Set a paltry 62 to win, Guyana cruised to 48 for one before dramatically losing five wickets for eight runs, to crash to 56 for six. Ryan John (2-15) and Sherman Lewis (2-23), with two wickets apiece, caused the damage.

However, Akshay Homraj, who finished on nine not out, held his nerve to steer Guyana home, smashing pacer Craig Phillip straight for four to achieve victory.

Opener Shimron Hetmyer, who hammered a century in the first innings, failed to score leaving Guyana on three for one, but Brian Sattaur, who top-scored with 31 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who got 10, combined in a 45-run, second-wicket stand to put their side in sight of victory.

Things fell apart once fast bowler Sherman Lewis claimed Chanderpaul at 48 for two, before Homraj saw the hosts safely to their target.

Guyana head the standings with 26.3 points while the Windwards are third on 21.9 points.