Jamaica slump to second loss

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Emmanuel Lett outdid Fabien Allen in the battle of the under-rated all-rounder and led Trinidad and Tobago to a tight two-wicket win over Jamaica in the second round of the WICB Regional Under-19 One-Day Championship here yesterday.

Lett, who came into the tournament as an unknown rookie, delivered for T&T when it mattered with a fighting half-century as they made 178 for eight off 49 overs, to better the 177 for nine in 50 overs made by the Jamaicans.

The win was T&T's second, following their well-earned triumph over Guyana on Monday, while Jamaica suffered their second defeat, following the nine-wicket thrashing handed out by Barbados on Monday.

Victim

On an Enmore pitch which called for dogged batting, Lett faced 118 balls for his 55 before he became the third victim for left-arm spinner Allen, who was Jamaica's best with three for 29 from 10 overs. He was the best of the nine bowlers used by Jamaica in their victory bid.

Lett, who made a memorable unbeaten 187 in the three-day tournament, again showcased his ability to concentrate for long periods and build an innings. After he fell with victory in sight, the Trinis lost a few careless wickets.

It took a calm ninth-wicket unbroken stand of 25 between tail-enders Idrees Mohammed on 11 not out and Rajiv Maraj, who had the honour of hitting the winning run to move to 14 not out, to settle the nerves.

In the first half of the match, Allen top-scored with 40 from 55 balls as he featured in a face-saving ninth-wicket stand of 39 with James McDonald (17 not out), after Jamaica had been sent in.

However, it was the surprise slow bowling of Lett which broke the back of the innings.

Entering the fray in the 32nd over, he snatched three for 23 from five overs just as the Jamaicans tried to break free.