BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

Defiant half-centuries by André Creary and Jamie Merchant helped Jamaica to stage a major recovery to draw their third-round match in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge against Barbados yesterday.

When the match ended at the Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex with four of the final 15 overs remaining, Jamaica were 234 for seven batting a second time.

Creary, who notched up his maiden century in the first innings, occupied the crease for 253 minutes and faced 191 balls. He struck 12 fours and joined forces with Merchant for a huge partnership that yielded 131 runs when the seventh wicket fell.

Promoted up the batting order, Merchant registered his second half-century of the tournament. He was undefeated, having batted for almost three hours.

An aggressive batsman by nature, he played positively throughout, striking nine fours and two massive sixes.

The two frustrated Barbados, who were in the hunt for quick wickets which would have given them an outside chance of going for a win for most of the post-tea session.

The pair was responsible for the second best partnership of the innings of 72, but Arthur was the first to go for 28 attempting an ambitious drive, only to be comprehensively beaten and bowled. His demise signalled the end of the Barbados innings as the last four wickets caved in for 28 runs.

At Warner Park: Defending champions Guyana stayed on course to retain the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge, when they registered an authoritative nine-wicket win against Trinidad & Tobago in the third round yesterday.

Easy target

Set a relatively easy target of 29 runs for victory, Guyana achieved victory in the fourth of the final 15 overs.

Leading the victory charge for the Guyanese outfit was medium-pacer Kellon Carmichael. He bagged four wickets for 47 runs and was supported by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who picked up two for 58.

At Cayon: An intriguing final day finished in disappointment for both teams as the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands played to draw intheir third-round match yesterday.

Set 158 to win after the Leewards carried their overnight 125 for one to 260 all out, the Windwards made a fight of it but could only reach 94 for three when time ran out.

Guyana lead the six-team standings with 30 points, trailed in second by Jamaica on 18, while Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados are tied for third on 15, the Leewards nine and Windwards bottom-of-the-table on six.