Barbados beat Jamaica to take Under-17 title

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC-Barbados trounced Jamaica by seven wickets to be crowned new champions of the West Indies Under-17 cricket competition here yesterday.

Dikembe Wilson struck an unbeaten half century to help Barbados spoil the championship dreams of the Jamaicans who were also in the running.

The Bajans chased down the target in 34.2 overs losing just three wickets after dismissing Jamaica for 121 in 31.3 overs at Shaw Park. The win in the fifth and final round of competition leapfrogged Barbados to the top of the table with 19.9 points and edging ahead of front runners Windward Islands who finished on 19.5 points after losing to Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica Under 17, who won the toss and decided to bat, lost seven wickets before they could put 100 runs on the board.

Brad Barnes top scored with 39 and featured in two top order partnerships that sought to stabilize the innings.

Barnes put together  39 with Jordan Hill (20) for the second wicket and a third wicket stand of 47 with Michael Frew  who scored 23. Malik Thompson contributed 21. But the Jamaicans were always in trouble as two wickets fell with the score on 89 and another two with the score on 107.

Dominic Drakes and Tremaine Harris grabbed three wickets each while Shamar Springer accounted for two.

Wilson anchored the chase with a well played 51 in which he scored five boundaries and received support from Tashawn Boyce who got 32.