KINGSTON – Barbados repeated as champions of the West Indies Under-15 Cricket Tournament after defeating Guyana by four wickets in their decisive top-of-the-table fifth and final round match at Kensington Park on Wednesday.
The young Barbadians ended with 26.2 points while Guyana were second on 24.5 with host country Jamaica third on 13.2, followed by Windward Islands (12.6), Trinidad and Tobago (12.4) and Leeward islands (7.7).
It was Barbados’ fifth title at this level following triumphs in 1997 in St Lucia, 2004 in St Vincent, 2012 in St Kitts and last year on home soil.
Batting in winning the toss, Guyana posted a challenging total of 206 for eight in their 50 overs with No.3 batsman Mavendra Dindyal making 98.
Chasing 207 for victory, Barbados cleverly paced their innings to win with 14 balls to psare as they reached 208 for six in 47.4 overs.
Tournament MVP Jaden Leacock enjoyed a solid all-round display, opening both the batting and bowling for Barbados. He took two wickets for 25 runs with his swing bowling and returned to hit the top score of 47 at the top of the order.
Barbados suffered a setback when opener Jacob Bethell was forced to retire hurt after scoring 20.
But Leacock and captain Nimar Bolden, who was run out for 42, shared a half-century stand for the second wicket to put Barbados on course for victory.
It was the fourth consecutive victory in five matches for Barbados after losing their opening match to eight-time winners, Trinidad and Tobago.
Wicket-keeper Jamario St Hill performed a tidy job behind the stumps, taking three catches and effecting a stumping. He was the top wicket-keeper with six dismissals.
But the Barbados bowlers sent down a whopping 31 wides and five no-balls among the 44 extras in the Guyana innings. (EZS)
Summarised scores:
Guyana 206-8 in 50 overs (Mavendra Dindyal 98, Romel Datterdeen 24, Jonathan Rampersaud 19; Jaden Leacock 2-25, Tariq O’Neale 2-34, Rashad Worrell 2-52).
Barbados 208-6 in 47.4 overs (Jaden Leacock 47, Nimar Bolden 42, Hakeem Perryman 26, Jacob Bethell 20 retired hurt, Romario Roach 15, Tariq O’Neale 14 not out, Rashad Worrell 11, Micaiah Simmons 10; Jonathan Rampersaud 2-18).
Honour Roll
Most runs: Mavendra Dindyal (Guyana) 200 runs.
Most Wickets: Jordan Johnson (Jamaica) 12
Most dismissals by wicket-keeper: Jomario St Hill (Barbados) 6
Tournament MVP: Jaden leacock (Barbados) 178 runs, 7 wickets.