Jamaica score first win in Rising Stars U15 Championship

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Jamaica secured a comfortable seven-wicket win over Guyana in the West Indies Rising Stars Under-15 Championship on Thursday. The match was played at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG).

Guyana were first routed for 104, with medium pacer Andrew Lloyd claiming an impressive 4-14. Lloyd wreaked havoc on the Guyana middle order, picking up three quick wickets to see them move from 65-3 to 68-6.

Dondre Peters weighed in with 2-12. Jamaica chased down the target, losing three wickets in 29 overs, thanks to Jayden Shaw’s 38 and Tesfah Ward’s 25.

Defending champions Barbados continued their dominant run in the championship with a crushing 170-run victory over the Leeward Islands at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

After posting an imposing 275 all out in 49.5 overs, Barbados bowled out the Leewards for just 105 in 37.1 overs, securing their second win in as many matches.

Asked to take the first strike, Barbados did not have things all their way, as they were in early trouble at 11 for two in the seventh over after two quick wickets from pacer William Pitman.

However, the recovery mission began with captain Justin Parris and Kelani Clarke, who put on 146 runs for the third wicket. Parris went on to hit nine fours in his 72 before he, too, fell to Pitman.

Clarke carried on to top score with 86 from 90 balls, including eight fours and a six. Wicket-keeper Seth Smith also struck a half-century, scoring 55 to power Barbados to a commanding total of 275. Pitman was the standout bowler, claiming an impressive 6-41.

Justin Parris followed up his batting heroics with a devastating spell, taking 4-13 to dismantle the Leewards’ chase. Liam Sealy with 3-21 and Jahidi Hinds, 2-17 provided strong support. Only Clayvaunte Powell with 64 offered resistance, but his lone effort was not enough to prevent a heavy defeat.

At Liberta Sports Club, Trinidad & Tobago also won by seven wickets, dismissing the Windward Islands for 123 before cruising to 124-3 in just 23.1 overs. Zion Phillip, 36 and Kaiden Pollard, 24, led the chase after Rylee Gangoo, 3-9 and Samuel Stewart, 3-38, stifled the Windwards’ batting.

Third-round action continues today with Barbados taking on Trinidad & Tobago at Coolidge, Leewards facing Jamaica at Liberta Sports Club, and the Windwards facing Guyana at the ARG.