GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):
ADRIAN BARATH and Darren Bravo stroked half centuries and steered champions Trinidad and Tobago to first innings honours over Jamaica on the second day of their TCL Group West Indies Under-19 first round match at Bourda yesterday.
Opener Barath top scored with 78 and the left-handed Bravo hit 63 as Trinidad and Tobago tallied 227 in reply to the Jamaicans' first innings total of 207. Medium-pacer Rashed Outar was the top bowler for Jamaica with three for 30 off 16.5 overs.
With a deficit of 20 runs, the Jamaicans ended on 29 for one, losing the wicket of opening batsman Zeniffe Fowler (four) with the total on seven, caught lowdown at third slip by Akiel Timothy off the bowling of pacer Shannon Gabriel. Marlon Johnson (12) and André Creary (10) were the not out batsmen at stumps.
The pint-sized Barath and Bravo dominated the Jamaica bowling with an impressive second-wicket partnership of 141 in 181 minutes - that threatened to give the title-holders a tight grip on the game - before a Jamaica fightback that prevented a huge first innings deficit.
Dogged performance
Barath was scoring his second half century at this level of cricket and impressed with a dogged performance.
Bravo, the younger brother of West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo, also played a good hand with a wide array of shots.
The pair was separated after lunch when André Creary caught Bravo at cover off Marcel Parchment's bowling for his 63, compiled in 181 minutes and 176 balls. Bravo's knock contained nine fours.
Trinidad and Tobago then lost three quick wickets during the second session including that of Barath.
He was caught at mid-off by Shacoya Thomas off Outar's bowling 22 short of a hundred after a 249-minute stay at the crease, facing 211 balls with seven fours.
His departure lifted the Jamaicans, but Trinidad and Tobago's skipper Sunil Narine with 24, including two sixes and two fours, and Vishan Jagessar (23) ensured their team came away with first innings lead.
Pacer André Russell, with two for 36, and Parchment (2-36) were the other top Jamaican bowlers.
At the Police Sports Club, the Windward Islands, trailing Barbados by 197 runs on first innings, reached 132 for seven in their second innings.
Scores: WINDWARD ISLANDS 147 (Lauron Francis 45, Keddy Lesporis 24; Kemar Roach 5-44, Jonathan Carter 2-9) and 132-7 (Lauron Francois 53 not out, Donwell Hector 28; Shamarh Brooks 3-26, Kemar Roach 2-20, Adrian Maynard 2-21). BARBADOS 344-4 declared (Jed Yearwood 186, Roger Williams 58, Shamarh Brooks 29 not out, Jonathan Carter 28).
At Everest, the Leeward Islands, trailing Guyana by 155 runs on first innings, reached 146 for two.
Scores: LEEWARDS 107 (Chesney Hughes 55; Troy Gonsalves 5-30, Krishna Deosaran 2-12) and 146-2 (Moncin Hodge 54 not out, Allan Powell 53 not out). GUYANA 262 (Richard Ramdeen 61, Shemroy Barrington 55, Ryan Hercules 32 not out; Chad Hampson 5-44, Chesney Hughes 2-44).
