An all-round exhibition of cricket by the defending Regional U19 champions Jamaica broke the backs of their opponents Barbados who suffered a humiliating eight-wicket loss in the first round of the 50-over leg in this year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) competition, played at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda.
Inspired by right-arm pacer Odaine Smith’s 4-27 and Mark Parchment’s unbeaten 45 along with a brisk 31 from in-form opener Leroy Lugg, the Jamaicans chased down a breezy target of 97 runs made by the Bajans who were outplayed in every department, ending their hunt on 100 for 2 in 31.3 overs.
Other contributions from the bowling department came from Ryan Burnett 1-23, George Walker 1-7, Gareth Henry 1-24 and Captain Ramaal Lewis 1-10, who ensured the Bajans suffocated in 36.4 overs, approximately 70 minutes before the lunch break in their match reduced to 48 overs per-side due to rain.
Bowling for Barbados Tarik Shorey 1-24 and Shemar Springer 1-18 were the most successful bowlers. Barbados skipper Joshua Drakes was the only significant contributor. He grafted a boundary-less 84-ball, 33 and sought to take charge of the repair job with wickets tumbling around him after the potent bowling unit tore through his line up, restricting them to just four boundaries in their innings.
Odean McCatty, who was in good touch during the three-day tournament, failed to trouble the scorers and was caught LBW by Shorey for nought. Lugg continued his form, punching and driving Shorey for two consecutive fours as the Jamaicans sought to make light work of their target.
The onslaught continued for a few more overs as they Jamaica 50 came up in the 18th over. However, a much-needed breakthrough came when Lugg was pinned LBW by springer leaving the defending champs still well placed in their hunt.
Parchment and Shahid Crooks (*12) steadied the innings after the early fall of wickets. Crooks put the opposition bowlers to the sword, picking apart the wayward bowling eventually ending the game in the in classical finish with a drive for three through the covers as Jamaica completed a comprehensive thumping with 16.2 overs remaining.
Earlier, batting first Barbados lost opener Le-Germon Gaskin (3) who was caught at long-on. A double blow in the ninth over saw Nicholas Kirton (12) being caught by the Jamaican skipper after he lobbed a delivery which gripped while Akil Greenidge (10) was run out leaving the Bajans hanging at 25 for 3.
Two more wickets fell in the 14th over as Jafari Toppins (13), after looking busy in the crease, hammered a full length delivery straight down the throat of Lewis in the deep, while Springer was trapped LBW for a second ball duck.
Barbados’ 50-runs came in the 15th over of the innings with their team in all sorts of trouble. The wicket of Matthew Jones who was caught by Ryan Burnett for 3, caused further trouble as Jamaica exposed the weak middle order. With the tail now exposed, Alex Ferguson (2) was comprehensively bowled by Smith who picked up his fourth wicket. The end to a woeful batting display came when Chad Williams (5) was run out by Burnett, Shorey had his stumps rattled by Walker and after putting up some rather frustrating resistance, Neil Persaud was run out for 4 leaving Drakes stranded and unbeaten on 33.
Scoreboard
BARBADOS
L. Gaskin c Burnet b Lewis 3
N. Kirton c Lewis b Henry 12
A. Greenidge run out 10
*J. Drakes not out 33
J. Toppin c Lewis b Smith 13
S. Springer lbw b Smith 0
M. Jones c Burnett b Smith 3
+A. Fergusson b Smith 2
C. Williams run out 5
T. Shorey b Walker 2
N. Persaud run out 4
Extras (b1, w9) 10
TOTAL (all out, 36.4 overs) 97
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-25, 3-25, 4-44, 5-44, 6-52, 7-54, 8-76, 9-81, 10-97.
Bowling: Henry 7-1-24-1, Lewis 4.4-1-10-1, Smith 9-1-27-4, Burnett 6-0-23-0, Walker 7-3-7-1, Walters 3-0-5-0
JAMAICA
L. Lugg lbw b Springer 31
O. McCatty lbw b Shorey 0
M. Parchment not out 45
S. Crooks not out 12
Extras (b2, lb5, w5) 12
TOTAL (2 wkts, 31.3 overs) 100
Did not bat: +R. Morris, *R. Lewis, N. Walters, G. Walker, R. Burnett, O. Smith, G. Henry.
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-52
Bowling: Shorey 8-3-24-1, Jones 8-2-17-0, Williams 8-1-22-0, Springer 4-0-18-1, Persaud 3.3-0-12-0
Result: Jamaica Under-19s won by eight wickets.
Points: Jamaica Under-19s 6.5, Barbados 0.2
Toss: Barbados Under-19s
Umpires: C. Alfred, I. Moakan
