Jamaica rekindle hopes in WICB Under-19 tourney

Jamaica rekindled their hopes of making it to the final of the WICB Under-19 Championship with a 23 runs win over the Leewards Islands in their fifth and penultimate-round clash at Jamalco yesterday.

Jamaica, having entered the contest in fourth position in the seven-team standings, first posted a competitive 267 for six off their allotted 50 overs.

The Robert Samuels-coached Jamaicans then returned to restrict the Leewards to 244 with 13 balls remaining.

Leading the way for Jamaica when they batted were Leonardo Friginette, opener Abijhai Mansingh, and captain Michael Frew, who all scored half centuries.

Friginette, batting at number three, hit a top score of 60; Mansingh helped to lay a platform with 53; while Frew towards the end, chipped in with 56.

Tyrone Williams, with four for 53, claimed the most wickets for the losers.

Miguel Smith, four for 53

Needing to win to keep any hopes of qualifying alive, Jamaica were then led in the field by Miguel Smith, four for 53, and front-line pacer Odean Smith, three for 47.

This was against opener Alzarri Joseph, who got 97, and Kofi James, who chipped in with 33.

In other matches, the marquee clash between Guyana and the Windward Islands saw the former coming out on top by 85 runs.

Guyana first tallied 257 all out off 49.5 overs before returning to limit the Windwards for 172 off 39.3 overs.

Meanwhile, at Manchester High, out-of-contention Barbados defeated Canada by 151 runs.

Barbados netted 272 for four off the allotment of overs before returning to bowl out the Canadians for 121.

The preliminary round of the tournament is set to come to an end today, with Jamaica playing Barbados at Chedwin Park being the feature.

The other games will see front-runner Trinidad and Tobago tackling the Leewards at Ewarton, while Guyana and Canada will do battle at Manchester High.

The final between the top two preliminary-round finishers will be played at Treasure Beach Sports Park, St Elizabeth.