Jamaica skipper Ramaal Lewis’ 11-wicket haul and Leroy Lugg’s century were not enough to secure a win against the Windwards after three days of exciting cricket the match ending in a draw yesterday as the final round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional U19 three-day tournament concluded at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Lewis again was phenomenal with his left-arm spin, capturing 4-41 in the second innings to accompany his first innings figures of 7-57, ending with a match haul of 11-98. Two wickets apiece from Ryon Burnett and Nicholas Walters helped restrict the Windwards to a second innings score of 147 with opener Gidron Pope who picked up four wickets, being the top scorer with 44.
Needing 111 runs for a win, Jamaica’s first innings century maker Lugg scored 31 while his opening Odaine McCatty top scored with an unbeaten 46, but their efforts failed to take their team over the line as they were restricted to 94-5 from 19 overs, 17 runs shy of their required victory target.
Pope picked up three wickets to go along with his four from the first innings, ending with a match haul of seven wickets.
Lugg and McCatty took their team to 20 without loss heading into the final hour of the day. The pair, as they did in the first innings, took the bowlers to the bleachers, adding 78 for the first wicket before Lugg was run out.
Requiring 33 from less than five overs, Jamaica lost three of their middle-order batters in; Walters (7), Shahid Crooks (0) and Mark Parchment (0) while the score remained on 88 as what looked like a win for the former champs turned out to be a draw.
The final over saw Romaine Morris (2) caught by the Windwards skipper Roland Cato as he and his team celebrated three days of competitive cricket which sadly ended in a draw.
Earlier, after resuming their innings on the final day at 272 for 6 in reply to the Windwards first innings score of 252, skipper Lewis, who was on 16 only managed to add three more runs to his total before he was caught for 19 while Odean Smith (0) and Gareth Henry (6) were the other two wickets to fall leaving Ryon Burnette stranded on 12.
Hypolite (3-66) and Pope (4-70) picked up the main wickets while Edwards (1-37) and Sherman Lewis (1-23) chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Melvin Gordon (0), Tonis Simon (11), Sherman Hooper (0), skipper Roland Cato (15), Anson Latchman and the top scorer Pope fell in quick succession as the Windwards wobbled at 66 for 6. Wickets continue to fall as Doran Edwards found himself trapped LBW after a battling 16, so too did Ryan John who departed for 19 after the tea break.
Sherman Lewis was bowled by his namesake for seven and Kharmal Hamilton was bowled by Burnett for a duck leaving Hypolite unbeaten on 17 as their second innings came to an abrupt end. On the first day Cato’s 127 steered his team to a first innings total 252 after Jamaica West Indies U19 skipper Lewis picked up 7-57. In reply the defending champions racked up 289 all out compliments of opener Lugg who cracked a rebellious 109.
