Barbados fought bravely but in the end Leeward Islands just held on to a tense draw with one wicket left, to lift the CWI Rising Stars Boys’ Under-19 three-day title yesterday at Arnos Vale in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Needing 106 to win the final from a minimum of 26 overs on the third and last day, Leewards ended on 51 for nine from 28 overs. They gained a total of nine points and Barbados 7.8 points.
Leewards had required a further 78 runs at the beginning of the mandatory 15 overs with six wickets in hand.
Left-arm spinner Nathan Sealy brought Barbados right back into the game, snatching six for ten from 14 overs.
However, he failed to hold onto a sharp chance at slip in the penultimate over when fellow left-arm spinner Devon Stevenson found Nathan Edward’s edge.
Edward became Leewards’ hero with a defiant 11 not out off 55 balls. He also survived a very confident appeal for a run out at the bowler’s end in the last over. (EH)
