BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A clinical all-round performance by Windward Islands condemned Barbados to their second successive defeat and put them out of the running for the Regional Under-19 one-day trophy which they won last year in Guyana.
Opener Keone George top-scored with 74 to push the Windwards to 227 all out off 49.4 overs and seamers Preston McSween and Ray Jordan then combined to reduce Barbados to 152 all out off 38.2 overs, sending the hosts to a disappointing 75-run loss.
The victory was the second straight for the Windwards and it carried them to third in the standing with 24.5 points and a slim outside chance of taking the title.
They come up against winless Leeward Islands at Kensington Oval tomorrow in the final round of matches.
Chasing what should have been a moderate total, Barbados stumbled and it took their consistent captain Shai Hope to save them from total embarrassment with a well-composed 74.
He faced 101 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes in 152 minutes.
Batting at number three, he was ninth out bowled by the fiery Jordan (2-43) with a full- length delivery in the first over of his third spell.
Barbados lost their openers early to crash to seven for two in the third over.
Hope and wicketkeeper Carlos Maynard revived things with a partnership worth 66 off 87 balls, to put the Windwards on the defensive.
Maynard faced 45 balls and struck two fours in 12 before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Larry Edward (2-12), who also had Jameel Stuart caught at point for 10 in the 26th over at 95 for four.
Marlon Welcome-Goodman (13) joined Hope to put on 32 for the fifth wicket before Taryck Gabriel snatched two wickets in three balls and left-armer McSween returned to pick up the two more wickets to finish with three for 17, and send Barbados to defeat.
Earlier, invited to bat, Windwards defied magnificent career-best figures of six for 14 from leg-spinner Aaron Jones to reach a competitive total.
George and Gidron Pope put on 44 for the first wicket before Pope was caught behind hooking at fast bowler Akeem Jordan for ten.
George played some fine strokes on both sides of the wicket including his first six which sailed over mid-wicket off Jordan.
After captain Jerlani Robinson fell for 16, George also linked-up in a fluent third-wicket partnership of 48 with Gabriel who made 30 off 39 balls with three fours and a six.
Overall, George hit five fours and three sixes from 120 balls.
Neil Persaud had Gabriel trapped lbw on the back-foot before George was well caught by Maynard off Jones, cutting at a delivery.
Pint-sized wicket-keeper/batsman Gian Benjamin gave a simple return catch to Jones off the very next delivery to leave the Windwards on 159 for five in the 39th over.
Edward and Junior Henry (24) cashed in, however, smashing 56 at a run-a-ball for the sixth-wicket to lead the revival.
Edward’s knock of 40 contained four fours and a six and came from 35 balls before becoming one of two wickets for Jones in the penultimate over.
