(CMC) – Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago were convincing but Windward Islands needed a nail-biter, as all three teams registered victories on the final day of the opening round of the Rising Stars Under-19 three-day championship.
While Barbados thrashed Guyana by 80 runs at Park Hill, T&T produced a decent run chase to get the better of Jamaica by five wickets at Sion Hill yesterday.
However, Windward Islands failed to have things all their way at Arnos Vale and squeaked home by a wicket over Leeward Islands.
Set 145 for victory, Windwards were seen over the line by the last wicket pair of Shawnil Edward (three not out) and Kirtney Franklyn who finished unbeaten on nought but held an end for four deliveries.
Noelle Leo led the run chase with an attacking 45 from 57 balls, lashing a four and three sixes, to follow up opener Stephan Pascal’s 35 off 65 deliveries, with four fours and a six.
Off-spinner Onaje Amory, already with a five-wicket haul in the first innings, threatened to pull Leewards back into the contest with three for 35 before the Windward tail-enders stood firm.
Earlier, Leewards were dismissed for 111 after resuming the morning on 85 for six, Kirt Murray (5-35) and Tarrique Edward (5-42) completing five-wicket hauls.
Barbados endured little difficulty after converting their overnight 29 for one into 154 for four declared, with opener Zion Brathwaite top-scoring with a swift unbeaten 51 from 61 balls, including five fours and a six.
He was supported by two cameos, Joshua Dorne lashing a 35-ball 41 with half-dozen fours and a six and Joshua Morris punching 37 from 25 balls with two fours and three sixes.
Set 272 for victory, Guyana folded for 191, undermined by leg-spinner Isaiah Folkes who claimed four for 66 and left-arm spinner Nathan Sealy who finished with three for 46.
Only Zeynul Ramsammy at number six offered any resistance, belting 76 from 116 deliveries with nine fours and a six.
Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, left themselves with a modest target of 107 for victory and were guided there by Rajeev Ramnath’s top score of 35 not out off 59 balls.
Left-arm spinner Nick Ramlal had earlier finished with six for 18 for match figures of eight for 28 as Jamaica, resuming from their overnight 31 for three, were bundled out for 145.
Opener Adrian Weir carried the fight for the Jamaicans with a bold 63 off 105 deliveries, including two fours and five sixes while Steven Wedderburn supported with 38.
