Slow start for Jamaica at U15 championship

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

JAMAICA FAILED to get one over on defending champions Barbados, as the two started their Rising Stars Under-15 Limited Overs Championship campaigns at the the Liberta Sports Club in Antigua on Tuesday.

The Windward Islands and Guyana also secured dominant victories in their opening matches.

Barbados made light work of Jamaica with an emphatic nine-wicket win.

After asking the Jamaicans to take the first strike, Barbados were in a no-nonsense mood in the field, skittling out the Jamaicans for just 77 in 24.5 overs. Medium-pacer Asher Branford led the charge with 4-30, and he was well supported by Joshua Thompson, who snared 3-14, and Jahidi Hinds, 3-16.

The Jamaicans just could not string any decent partnerships together and lost wickets at regular intervals, with only wicketkeeper Luwain Pryce (22) offering any resistance.

Barbados chased down the target in just 18 overs, with Hinds scoring an unbeaten 28 from 58 balls with three fours. Fellow opener Javion Batson weighed in with 22, ensuring a comfortable win.

Over at Coolidge Cricket Ground, the Windward Islands secured an eight-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands.

It was a similar situation to the game at the Liberta Sports club, as losing wickets were the order of the day for the team batting first.

In this case, the Leewards were asked to bat, and they were skittled out for 109, with Jathan Edward top-scoring with 23.

Jorden Charles was the pick of the bowlers with 3-27, while Jeanille Williams took 3-21. Dylan John also weighed in, grabbing 2-15, while Jershaun Joseph chipped in with 2-17.

In reply, Alex Armstrong’s unbeaten 47 guided the Windwards to 110-2 in 25.5 overs, sealing a convincing win.

Armstrong and opener Derwin Lewis batted sensibly and put on 63 runs for the first wicket before Lewis was run out for 25.

In the meantime, Guyana took their own sweet time in getting the runs as they defeated Trindiad & Tobago by six wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Sent in to bat, T&T posted 168, thanks to Jordan Julien’s 53. The right-handed opener faced 99 balls and hit three fours and a six, as he and fellow opener Davis Guerra, who made 32, put on 96 runs for the opening wicket.

The fall of their wickets started a mini-collapse as wickets tumbled regularly, with four Guyana bowlers picking up two wickets each.

In the run chase, captain Richard Ramdehol, with an unbeaten 64, was the saviour, as Guyana were in a spot of bother at 93-4 in the 23rd over.

Ramdehol got good support from Brandon Henry, who chipped in with 39 not out, as the pair added 78 runs for the fifth wicket to steer their team to victory at 171-4 in 41.5 overs. Opener Justin Dowlin had earlier made 31, while wicketkeeper Lomar Seecharan chipped in with 21.

The second round gets under way today.