KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Barbados retained the Regional Under-15 title on Wednesday, after an impressive 98 from Mavendra Dindyal failed to inspire Guyana and they lost by four wickets in the deciding match.
Chasing 207 for victory, the Barbadians reached their target with 14 balls remaining at the Kensington Cricket Ground in the final round of matches.
It is the fifth Regional Under-15 title for Barbados, and first time ever, they have won back-to-back titles, following their success last year on home soil.
Jaden Leacock, later named Most Valuable Player, hit the top score of 47 and shared successive half-century stands at the top of the order with fellow opener Jacob Bethell, retired ill on 20, and Nimar Bolden with 42 to put the Barbadians on track for victory.
After the obligatory wobble in the middle of the innings, Barbados got things back on course and Tariq O’Neale, not out on 14, formalised the result for the Barbadians, who completed the Tournament with four wins out of their five games, losing only to regional sporting arch-rivals Trinidad & Tobago in the opening round, for a total of 26.2 points – 1.7 more than the Guyanese.
Earlier, Dindyal was the rock upon which Guyana built their total 206 for nine in 50 overs, after they chose to bat in the top-of-the-table decider.
After they suffered the loss of opener Mahendra Gopilall for a duck, Dindyal put the Guyanese batting on his back and anchored two half-century stands to lead the charge.
He dominated a second wicket stand of 57 with Shamar Yearwood and gave the innings backbone when he put on 89 for the fourth wicket with Jonathan Rampersaud, but Guyana, who also won four out of their five games, kept losing wickets at critical stages to undermine their bid to set an impregnable total.
In the other matches: Windward Islands finished in fourth position, even though they toppled third-placed hosts Jamaica by five wickets at Sabina Park, and a similar fate befell Leeward Islands, as they finished at the bottom of the table, although they edged Trinidad & Tobago by five runs at Melbourne Oval.
Final points standings
1 Barbados 26.2 points
2 Guyana 24.5
3 Jamaica 13.2
4 Windward Islands 12.6
5 Trinidad & Tobago 12.4
6 Leeward Islands 7.7