SCARBOROUGH, Tobago – Windward Islands held their nerve on a final day filled with drama and rain, and were crowned the new WICB Regional Under-17 cricket champions yesterday.
Their batting, led by Allick Athanaze, set things up and their bowlers formalised a crushing, 207-run victory over Leeward Islands in their final round match at Canaan.
The Windwards topped the standings with 24.9 points and claimed the title for the first time, after Jamaica and hosts Trinidad & Tobago – the two teams ahead of them entering the final set of matches – failed to dip over the finish line on the last day of the tournament which was affected by rain.
Jamaica, the pre-series leaders, suffered a shocking ten-wicket defeat against last year’s champions Barbados in a low-scoring affair at Shaw Park.
At the same time, Guyana overcame impressive bowling from T&T captain Kirstan Kallicharran and upset the home team by seven runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, after bad light stopped play at Mount Pleasant.
T&T finished the tournament second with 19.4 points, the same number as the third-placed Jamaicans – but the home team had a superior net run rate so ended in the higher position.
Guyana were fourth with 18.2 points, Barbados were fifth on 13.4 and Leewards ended last on 1.2.
Summarised scores:
At Canaan: Windward Islands 264 for nine in 50 overs (Allick Athanaze 85, Nick Elibox 43, Kimani Melius 34, Daniel Dupigny 28 not out, Emmanuel Stewart 21; Tasillo Allen 3-49, Keshawn Richardson 2-29, Zawandi Whyte 2-48). Leeward Islands 57 off 24.1 overs (Jemuel Cabey 27; Shane Roberts 4-12, Daniel Dupigny 2-14, Tahj Tavarnier 2-14). Windward Islands won by 207 runs.
At Mount Pleasant: Guyana 166 in 48.1 overs (Raymond Perez 41, Rolando Alimohamed 30 not out, Adrian Sukhwa 22, Ramnarine Chatura 21; Kirstan Kallicharran 10-2-18-5, Sachin Seecharan 2-24, Nathaniel McDavid 2-26). Trinidad & Tobago 133 for seven in 42.1 overs (Siba Batoosingh 29, Keagan Simmons 28, Cephas Cooper 26, Kirstan Kallicharran 25; Bhaskar Yadram 3-23, Kevin Sinclair 2-16). Guyana won by 7 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis Method.
At Shaw Park: Jamaica 93 in 29.4 overs (Javeur Royal 28; Jarion Hoyte 4-17, Joshua Bishop 3-22). Barbados 95 in 18.5 overs (Shakib Kellman 60 not out, Shian Brathwaite 31 not out). Barbados won by 10 wickets.
Round 4 scores
At Canaan: Guyana 207 in 48.1 overs (Ramnarine Chatura 39, Joshua Persaud 33, Richie Looknauth 23 not out, Rolando Alimohamed 23; Zawandi Whyte 4-39, Tassilo Allen 2-25). Leeward Islands 81 in 30.2 overs (Jemuel Cabey 23; Bhaskar Yadram 3-10). Guyana won by 126 runs.
At Shaw Park: Windward Islands 225 for five in 50 overs (Johann Jeremiah 84 not out, Nick Elibox 50 not out). Jamaica 122 in 29 overs (Ajae Gordan 45, Kashwayne Beale 30; Johnnel Eugene 9-2-22-5, Narun Singh 2-41). Windward Islands won by 103 runs.
At Louis D’Or: Barbados 82 in 21.4 overs (Shian Brathwaite 35; Nathaniel McDavid 5.4-1-22-5, Kirstan Kallicharran 2-4). TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 86 for five in 24.2 overs (Keagan Simmons 40, Cephas Cooper 21; Donte Nile 3-9). Trinidad & Tobago won by five wickets.
