PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMCTITLE-HOLDERS Barbados made a bad start to the 2005 CLICO West Indies Under-15 tournament, as they were soundly beaten by former champions Jamaica at Inshan Ali Park yesterday.
Jamaica, champions in 1996 and 2003, dominated the Barbados bowling en route to a handsome 114-run victory, while hosts Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands also claimed victories on day one of the regional junior competition.
At Preysal's Inshan Ali Park, Jamaica got an aggressive 66 off 104 balls from Andre Creary that included six fours and tallied a competitive 223 for five in 50 overs.
Match MVP Creary was well-supported by opening batsman John-Ross Campbell (44), Adrian Morris (24 not out) and Kirk Fisher (21).
In response, the Barbadians gave a listless batting display and folded for just 109 in 36.1 overs.
JOINT SCORERS
Rashidi Boucher (23) and Jamal Layne (23) were joint top scorers, while Adrian Morris (3-14), Rajiv Service (2-17) and Oshane Jones (2-22) were the chief wicket-takers for the victorious team.
At the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago registered an easy six-wicket win against Guyana.
Guyana won the toss and opted for first strike in conditions ideally suited for cricket. But the visitors' decision backfired after pacer Marlon Briceno made the initial breakthrough when he had opening batsman Norwayne Fredericks (1) leg before wicket with the total on six.
Thereafter, wickets fell on a regular basis, with Guyana eventually being dismissed for a meagre 85 in 42.1 overs.
Jitendra Sookdeo top-scored with 21. The next highest scorer was extras with 19.
Kjorn Ottley (2-10), Briceno (2-12) and Yannick Cariah (2-12) led the bowling for T&T.
A solid 33 including five fours from opening batsman Adrian Barath then steered the three-time champions to victory in 25.4 overs, losing four wickets in the process. Skipper and match MVP Ottley was unbeaten on 14 at the end.
TWO-WICKET WIN
At Gilbert Park, the Windward Islands scored a hard-fought two-wicket win against the Leeward Islands. The Leewards batted first and were restricted to 152 for nine in 50 overs, with opening batsman Kejel Tyson hitting 54 off 78 balls with nine fours.
Keron Cottoy had figures of three for 25 for the Windwards.
In their chase for victory, the Windwards suffered a middle-order collapse but Kaimran Azille (39) with three fours, and MVP Dalton Polius (35 not out) held firm to give their side victory with two wickets intact.
Round two matches will be played today with Guyana taking on Jamaica at Pierre Road in Charlieville, Leewards playing Trinidad and Tobago at Presentation College in Chaguanas, and Barbados facing the Windwards at Munroe Road in Cunupia.
Matches will start at 9.30 a.m. local time.
