Barbados Clinch West Indies Rising Stars U19 Regional Title with Victory over Jamaica

Barbados are the new Champions of the West Indies Rising Stars U19 Regional two-day Championships.

Defending champions, Jamaica U19, resumed the day on 72/2 at the Arnos Vale playing field in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

With the game hanging in the balance and all to play for, Steve Wedderburn who was not out overnight on 39, failed to add to his total as he was out off the bowling of fast bowler Jatario Prescod. Quickly following his dismissal, his overnight partner Matthew Morgan was brilliantly bowled by off spinner Saurav Worrell leaving the score now at 79/4 and Barbados taking the upper hand in the game.

Prescod struck again to make the score 89/5 as he removed Trevaun Williams caught in the slips for two runs.

Worrell then got back into the action as Brian Barnes was out caught for 16, the score now 107/5, the sixth wicket also fell at the same score when Prescod was able to dismiss Michael Clarke for 10. The eighth wicket was taken when the score was at 112 as Worrell bowled Jevone Wynter for four runs.

Ninety minutes into the day’s play, Jamaica made a decision to declare their innings on 127 giving Barbados a lead of 73 runs and being one step closer to the championship.

Worrell had figures of 3/16 while Prescod finished with 3/51 as all of their wickets came in the morning session.

By losing out on the first innings lead, the only possible way for Jamaica to regain the title would have been to bowl out Barbados in the second innings and push for a win before the end of play.

Barbados could simply bat the remainder of the day and take the 2024 2-Day title, and that they did.

Joshua Morris, opening the batting for the first time all tournament top scored with 62 in 133 balls with three fours and two sixes. Kyle Jordan scored his second half century of the tournament as he made 52 in 95 balls with six fours. Their opening partnership of 96 runs secured the title for the Bajan Boys.

Batting at numbers three and four respectively, Joshua Dorne and Zion Brathwaite both with unbeaten knocks, took the game to the end of play as Dorne patiently batted for his 29 in 80 balls while Brathwaite made 22 in 36 balls.

Barbados finished the day at 172/2 claiming first innings lead in a drawn game and celebrated a well deserved victory in the two-day competition.

They will now begin preparation to make a run at the double crown as the 50 over tournament begins on Tuesday. (ZM)