ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica, CMC – Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Guyana posted comfortable victories in first round matches of the Regional Under-15 Cricket Tournament being played in Jamaica.
Led by an all-round performance by Kirstan Kallicharan Trinidad & Tobago came from behind to defeat the Windward Islands by nine wickets on Saturday.
After narrowly missing out on first innings points on Day One, the T&T bowlers destroyed the Windward Islands for just 88 runs in the second innings. Emilo Gopaul took four for 31 while Kallicharan and Seecharan shared four wickets evenly. Emmanuel Stewart top scored for the Windwards in their second innings with 20, while Shane Roberts scored 15. With a first innings lead of one run, T&T required 90 for an outright victory from 57 overs.
Red Force allrounder, Kallicharan returned with the bat to blast 39 from 44 balls to lead T&T’s charge to victory. His knock included five fours and two sixes. He was ably assisted by Crystian Thurton who hit a patient 25.
Stuart Calderon took the lone wicket of Keagan Simmons as T&T came from behind to win by nine wickets.
Over at Steths Cricket Ground, Barbados made light work of the hosts with an outright victory. Having lost first innings points on the opening day, the Jamaicans started the second and final day on 68 for 2 looking to set the defending champions a big target. Opener, Richard McIntosh assisted in that regard, belting 71 runs from 121 deliveries. He stroked four fours during his time at the crease. There was no real help around him though with the second best score being 28 from Rashjni Roye but he had only managed to add two runs to his overnight total.
Jarion Hoyte (4-24) and Kemar Burrowes (3-47) did the bulk of the damage for the Bajans in restricting Jamaica in their second innings to 172. It left the visitors with 165 runs to get for an outright victory.
Opener, Daniel Cheshan wasted no time in delivering the goods, stroking an unbeaten 84 runs from 137 balls. He hit seven fours in his knock. Fellow opener, Thian Brathwaite played a handy role as well with a patient 27 from 77 balls.
Limar Pierce polished off the victory once Brathwaite was gone with a quick 31 as Barbados comprehensively won by eight wickets. Guyana had an extra day of rest as they destroyed the Leeward Islands by an innings and 32 runs inside one day. Spinner Ronaldo Mohammed took four wickets for three runs in his first six overs as the Leeward Islands folded for 46. Guyana responded with 122 for 5 from 39 overs with Mohammed contributing 22 to that total.
But he returned on the field to haunt the Leeward Islands’ batsmen, finishing with six for 11 and match figures of 13 for 22 as the Leewards were restricted to 44 in 25.4 overs.