Jamaica send TT home empty-handed

KINGSTON: Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in this year’s TCL Group West Indies Under-19 three-day cricket challenge came to a sad end yesterday when Jamaica, behind a career-best bowling performance from Alton Beckford, completed a 116-run win in their semifinal. Beckford, a leg-spin bowler, finished with the outstanding figures of eight for 33, as TT, chasing 263 to reach the final, were bowled out for 146 in their second innings just before tea on the third and last day.

It meant that TT, who arrived with both the limited-overs and three-day trophies under their arms, return home without a title, and Jamaica will prepare to meet Barbados in the final, starting tomorrow at Sabina Park. After the hosts declared at their overnight total, TT’s batsmen started cautiously against the Jamaica pace attack of Roy Williams and Denva Passley, but once openers William Perkins and Samuel Felix were separated, it was a steady procession to and from the pavilion. Beckford removed Perkins for the top score of 27, Petrock Nicholas for 21, Manoj Sirju and Jason Mohammed, all before lunch to have TT reeling on 101 for five.

He them claimed two more wickets in his second over after the resumption that put paid to any chances the title holders had. Beckford had Aaron Ragoonath caught in the deep for 23 with the second ball of his second over after lunch to push TT further on the ropes, and then with his fifth delivery, accounted for the visitors’ captain Kavesh Kantasingh for a duck. The innings folded soon after with none of the batsmen offering resistance to the probing spin of Beckford. In the other semi-final yesterday, Barbados drew with Guyana.

Scores:
BARBADOS 480 (Renaldo Parris 181, Kevin Stoute 94, Nicholas Squires 37, Orman Kellman 50, Neval Grazette 29, Javon Searles 26; Zaheer Mohammed 4-121, Gajanand Singh 2-39, Davendra Bishoo 2-83) and 294 for nine declared (Renaldo Parris 111, Cyprian Payne 40, Neval Grazette 36, Javon Searles 30, Orman Kellman 23; Leon Johnson 4-28, Devendra Bishoo 2-55) vs GUYANA 194 (Zamal Khan 121 not out; Barrington Yearwood 4-50, Ruel Brathwaite 3-36, Javon Searles 2-12).