Under-15s loosen cricket title grip

KINGSTOWN: Trinidad and Tobago’s grip on the West Indies Under-15 Cricket Championship loosened on Sunday when they went under to Barbados at Arnos Vale. Barbados were registering their first win of the tournament by defeating defending champions TT by 94 runs.

The Barbadians batted first and scored 248 for five wickets, as “Man-of-the-Match” Carlos Brathwaite (98 no) and captain Jed Yearwood (53) posted an opening partnership of 102.
Yearwood hit seven fours, while Brathwaite played a steady reassuring knocking that only included two fours. Visham Ramroop was the most successful Trinidad and Tobago bowler taking two wickets for 40 runs. When it was their turn to bat, Trinidad and Tobago were bowled out for 154 in 43 overs and three balls, with Adrian Maynard capturing four wickets for 22 runs. Kevon Francois topscored with 27 and captain Javed Mohammed 22. Guyana however edged closer to the regional cricket title by recording their fourth straight victory, defeating the Leeward Islands by eight wickets. The only other contender for the championship, Jamaica, kept their hopes alive by crushing the Windward Islands by seven wickets in a high-scoring encounter to set up the tournament decider when they meet Guyana tomorrow.

Batting first at Sion Hill, the Leeward Islands were dismissed for 146 in 48 overs and two balls, as Clyde Andries grabbed three wickets for 24 runs while captain Krishna Deosarran, who was also the “Man-of-the-Match”, snared two for 12 from his ten overs. Jacques Taylor topscored for the Leewards with 31, with assistance coming from Karim Warner (27) and Kieran Powell (25). In reply Guyana easily reached their target, scoring 147 for the loss of two wickets in 40 overs and two balls, due to half centuries from Stephen Jacobs (50 no) and Gajanand Singh (51 no). Deosarran chipped in with 20 to ensure victory. Jamaica registered their third win at Stubbs as they easily overhauled what seemed like an insurmountable Windward Islands total. The Windwards tallied 229 for nine wickets batting first, as Stein Joseph (59) struck two sixes and four fours and Andre Fletcher (53) not to be outdone, smashed three sixes and seven fours. They were supported by Heron Campbell with 32. Jamie Merchant (2-33) and Rashid Outar (2-35) were the most successful Jamaican bowlers.

In their turn at the crease, Jamaica lashed 234 for three wickets off 45 overs and one ball, as they were led by an unbeaten 72 from “Man-of-the-Match” Ziggy Levy, who struck five sixes and three fours. Levy and Marlon Johnson (67) shared a third wicket partnership of 119, as Johnson recorded a six and ten fours. Captain Jamie Trenchfield chipped in with 37. The youngsters took a break yesterday as the tournament concludes today, with all eyes on the Guyana/Jamaica match at Sion Hill which will decide the championship. The other match-ups will be the Leeward Islands against Barbados while Trinidad and Tobago oppose the Windward Islands.