ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago installed themselves as firm favourites to win the West Indies Rising Stars Under-15 Championship when they rattled off their third win on the trot with a 17-run win over defending champions Barbados yesterday.
In a high-scoring contest at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here, the Trinidadians piled up 235 for eight off their 50 overs and then restricted Barbados to 218 all out with an over to spare, to remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
The defeat for Barbados, meanwhile, was their third straight following previous disappointing results against Leeward Islands in the second round and Jamaica in the opening round, ruining their hopes of a successful title defence.
Choosing to bat first, T&T were inspired by Brendan Boodoo who top-scored with 82 but more importantly, underpinned two critical half-century stands. Boodoo, arriving at number three, struck nine fours in a 108-ball knock, posting 73 for the second wicket with Dimitri Ramjattan (22) and a further 72 for the fourth wicket with Christian Lall (25).
In reply, Barbados got half-centuries from in-form opener Gadson Bowens (65) and Raphael Lovell (61) but lost momentum when it mattered most at the back end of the chase.
Bowens, who belted 10 fours in a hasty 56-ball knock, added 52 for the second wicket with Kemar Dixon (5) but perished in the 17th over to leave the innings still precariously perished on 88 for five. Lovell, who arrived at number six to strike four fours off 93 balls, put on 61 for the sixth with Seth Smith (22) and a further 28 for the eighth with Akobi Crichlow-Byer (16) but his demise in the 47th over with Barbados still needing 34 for victory, sealed the game for Trinidad.
Meanwhile, hosts Leeward Islands and neighbours Windward Islands remained on Trinidad and Tobago’s heels by recording their second victories of the campaign. At Liberta Sports Club, the Leewards chased down 117 to beat Jamaica by six wickets, Lawshorn Bergam hitting an unbeaten 31 from 59 balls to see his side over the line with support from captain Matthew Miller who made 21.
Amoree Jones had earlier taken four for 20 to restrict Jamaica, Lythe Browne (2-6) and Krishna Girdhari(2-14) supporting with a brace each.
At Coolidge Cricket Ground, the Windwards defeated Guyana by 29 runs after gathering 174 all out from their 50 overs thanks to Tyler Venner’s 45, and then bundling their opponents out for 145 in the 41st over.
Guyana threatened early courtesy of a 65-run, opening stand between Razam Koobir (39) and Navin Boodwah (35) but Jorden Charles (4-31) and Theo Edward (3-19) scythed through the innings as the last nine wickets tumbled for 80 runs.
