Kingston, Jamaica – The Leeward Islands will be looking to use the momentum gained from their victory in the WICB 50 over Tournament to make another positive impact when the WICB Caribbean T20 is played next year.

Speaking shortly after sharing the 50 over title with Barbados after the final ended in a thrilling tie on Sunday at Sabina Park, Leewards skipper Wilden Cornwall outlined the plan was to win the 20/20 event.

“We did well in this tournament and I am happy for the boys. The next step is the Caribbean T20 in January and we will be looking to use this success as momentum going forward into that tournament,” Cornwall said.

“We have a group of young men who are eager to play and who are hungry for more success. The plan is to be properly prepared and come ‘hard’ in the Caribbean T20. We have tasted victory and the guys would like to have more of it.”

The 37-year-old was one of the leading players in the tournament, copping the award for the batsman with the most runs. He was also an inspiration on the field as they defended a meagre target of 140. Seamer Lionel Baker starred with a five-wicket haul and it required a moment of brilliance from keeper Jahmar Hamilton to run out Barbados last man Tino Best with the scores tied.

“We always thought we had a chance of winning. We never gave up and even until when the last pair was at the wicket we still had that belief,” Cornwall said. “At one stage I noticed that the boys were losing concentration, so I pulled everyone together and told then we had to pull it together. We won it as a team... everyone contributed.”
The winners of the Caribbean T20 in 2011 will qualify for the Airtel Champions League, which is slated for India. Guyana were the winners when the inaugural Caribbean T20 was played earlier this year and qualified for the Champions League, which was played in South Africa last month.