Jamaica crowned TCL cricket champions

KINGSTON: Jamaica captured first innings lead from Barbados in the drawn final to win the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 three-day cricket challenge yesterday. Jamaica gained a 60-run, first innings lead when they bowled out Barbados for 240 in their first innings to decide the championship.

Once the hosts did not fold meekly in their second innings and batted with purpose to reach 134 for six, it was confirmed. Barbados still had a 50-50 chance when they continued from their bedtime position of 151 for five, but two early wickets effectively put an end to their chase, and allowed the Jamaicans to claim bragging rights for the next year after avenging their loss in the final of the preceding limited-overs competition. Nicholas Squires hit the top score of 93 for Barbados, but lacked the support from the rest of the batting. Dennis Bulli was the most successful Jamaican bowler with four wickets for 68 runs from 26 overs.

Yanick Elliot and Craigian Malcolm each captured two wickets. Batting a second time, Jamaica had a sound platform from opening batsmen Xavier Marshall, with the top score of 45, and Elliot, with 42. The two shared 72 for the first wicket, but Orman Kellman and Kevin Stoute had some fun before the match came to a close when they shared the six wickets that tumbled. Kellman was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for seven runs from seven overs and Stoute took two for 39 from ten overs.