KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Guyana’s last round victory over the Windward Islands coupled with T&T’s heartbreaking loss to Jamaica helped them to capture the Regional Under-19 50-over title yesterday.
Both teams headed into the final round of matches with a similar record of four wins and one loss, but Guyana was crowned champions after they soundly whipped the Windwards by seven wickets, while T&T lost by four runs to Jamaica.
Needing a win to have any hope of doing the double after capturing the 4-Day title, T&T fell agonisingly short.
They looked to be on their way to victory when Justyn Gangoo (3-4) and Crystian Thurton (3-17), ran through Jamaica’s middle order to rout them for just 107 runs.
But Sanjay Browne and Kirk MzKenzie had other ideas, as they reduced T&T to 73-9. However, the last wicket pair of Jayden Seales and Gangoo put on 30 runs to carry their side within a whisker of an unlikely win.
It was not to be though, as Roberto Simpson trapped Seales lbw for 24 to spark wild celebrations among the Jamaican players.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s victory was spurred on by a spirited bowling performance by opening bowlers Joshua Jones and Qumar Torrington, along with Kevelon Anderson.
Jones struck with just the second ball of the innings, dismissing Jaheil Walters for a duck without a run on the board and 12 runs later he also accounted for the wicket of Teddy Bishops.
And once Anderson was brought into the attack, he quickly snapped up the wicket of topscorer Jahseon Alexander for 22, to spark a middle order collapse which saw the Windwards lose their last seven wickets for 54 runs.
Anderson was the main culprit, finishing with figures of 4-26 and he received good support from Torrington (3-26) and Jones (2-23).
Guyana was actually in early trouble at 14 for two at one stage, before a 63-run partnership between Sachin Singh and Kevin Sinclair carried them to safety, with Sinclair topscoring with 39 and Singh stroking an unbeaten 27.
The day’s other match between Barbados and the Leeward Islands ended in a no result due to inclement weather.
Barbados were seemingly on their way to victory, having posted a total of 174 for six in their 20 overs and then restricted their opponents to 33 for four before the rains came.
Guyana ended with 27.8 points, T&T was second with 22.3 points, Jamaica third on 20 points, Barbados fourth on 18.8 points, the Windwards finished fifth on 17.2 points, with the Leeward Islands (8.8) and Canada (0.6) points bringing up the rear.
SCORES
At Park Hill Playing Field: The match was abandoned due to inclement weather.
BARBADOS 174 for six in 20 overs (Kilano Brathwaite 45 not out, Joshua Bishop 37 not out, Kadeem Alleyne 33, Shian Brathwaite 31; Uri Smith 2-28, Kiam Pemberton 2-29)
LEEWARD ISLANDS 33 for four in 5 overs (Joshua Bishop 2-15, Matthew Forde 2-17).
At Arnos Vale Playing Field: Guyana defeated the Windward Islands by seven wickets.
WINDWARD ISLANDS 105 in 33.5 overs (Jahseon Alexander 22; Kevelon Anderson 4-26, Qumar Torrington 3-26, Joshua Jones 2-23)
GUYANA 106 for three in 24.3 overs (Kevin Sinclair 39, Sachin Singh 27).
At Sion Hill Playing Field: Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago by four runs.
JAMAICA 107 in 42 overs (Carlos Brown 28; Justyn Gangoo 3-4, Crystian Thurton 3-17, Joshua James 2-18)
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 103 in 33.3 overs (Jayden Seales 24; Sanjay Brown 4-40, Kirk McKenzie 3-21).
CMC rbi/18