(WICB) Bridgetown, Barbados — Jeremy Solozano, the Trinidad and Tobago opener, was the top batsman while Oshane Walters, Jamaica’s off-spinner, and Gudakesh Motie, Guyana’s left-arm spinner, were the leading bowlers in the just concluded West Indies Cricket Board’s Under-19 Three-day Tournament.
Solozano a stylish left-hander amassed 542 runs at an impressive average of 90.33 runs per innings in the five matches. He made two centuries and three-half-centuries. His best knock was 160 not out against Guyana while his other ton (128 against Leewards) took him over the 500-run mark.
The second highest run-maker was Leeward Islands captain Akeem Saunders, who made 412 runs (average 58.86). Shai Hope, captain of champions Barbados, completed the top three with 405 runs at an average of 81 runs per innings.
Saunders, a West Indies Under-19 representative made the highest score in the tournament – a high-quality 167 against Trinidad & Tobago at Kensington Oval. Hope made three centuries which equalled the record for the most in a single tournament. He scored 101 vs Windwards, 141 not out vs Leewards and 104 not out vs Trinidad & Tobago.
The top three bowlers were all spinners. Walters ended with 27 wickets at 11.19 apiece. His best figures were 6-40. Motie also got 27 wickets at 15.22 with his best figures of 7-31. Third on the list was Larry Edward, the Windwards left-arm spinner who took 22 wickets at 14 runs each to follow up his good performances last year in Guyana.
The leading fast bowler was Barbadian left-arm swing bowler Darnell Greenidge, who picked up 18 wickets (average 13.11) to be joint fifth on the overall list. Another left-arm pacer, Preston McSween of Windwards, impressed with his pace and swing to take 17 wickets (average 20.00).
The prize for the best bowling figures went to Kenneth Dember of Windwards. The off-spinner took 8-44 in the second innings of the final round against Jamaica. He ended the match with 14-89 as he followed up his 6-45 in the first innings.
The leading wicket-keeper was Nicholas Pooran of Trinidad & Tobago. He had 14 dismissals in five matches – 11 catches and three stumpings. Hollis Blair of Windwards, was again good in his second season at this level with 13 catches. Barbados used two keepers – Shai Hope (9 catches) and Carlos Maynard (5 catches) who combined for a total of 14 dismissals behind the stumps.
