A typically explosive innings of 71 from skipper Chris Gayle enabled Jamaica to inflict a crushing nine-wicket defeat over the West Indies U-19s at the Enmore Community Centre ground, yesterday.
As a result of their comprehensive win, the Jamaicans have earned two bonus points and have confirmed their place in the semi-final.
Playing in the rustic setting of the rural community of Enmore, approximately 16 miles east of Georgetown, the Jamaicans won the toss but opted to field.
West Indies pacer Daren Powell soon had the juniors reeling, bowling Chesney Hughes and Delorn Thomas before they had scored. Rajendra Chandrika and Shamarh Brooks, however, came together in a fighting partnership which realised 56 runs with the 50 materialising in the 14th over. Both youngsters entertained the small crowd with attractive strokeplay; Chandrika with one memorable straight drive for four off Powell and with a sweep shot which resulted with him ending up on his back, evoking memories of Rohan Kanhai. Brooks also helped himself to attractive boundaries off Taylor and Powell, but as if their performances were too good to be true, both fell with the score on 56: Chandrika was bowled by Taylor for 18 comprising two fours off 49 balls in 70 minutes; Brooks was caught and bowled Miller for 36, which included four fours off 68 balls in 92 minutes. Brookes’s dismissal virtually marked the end of any further significant resistance, as only three other batsmen reached double figures: Nkrumah Bonner and Andre Creary 10 apiece and Delorn Johnson,16, as the innings folded at 110 in 36.4 overs. But the day did not belong only to the quickies: off-spinner Tamar Lambert and left-arm spinner, Nikita Miller, weighed in with 3-9 off 8.4 overs and 3-15 off six overs, respectively.
When Jamaica batted, Gayle unleashed a typically murderous onslaught, racing to 50 off just 31 deliveries. He was particularly severe on pacer Kelbert Walters, taking 18 runs off Walters’s last over before lunch; Guyanese left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul, also came in for his share of rough treatment,with Gayle greeting him with two sixes off his [Permaul’s] first over. Gayle’s opening partner, Brenton Parchment also joined in the carnage, as they posted 104,
When Gayle went, bowled by Shacoya Thomas, his 71 had comprised seven fours and four sixes off 50 balls. Parchment and Shane Findlay then completed the formality of an easy nine-wicket win as Jamaica reached 112-1 in only 13 overs. Parchment was 24 not out [1×6,1×4,35 balls] and Findlay eight not out.Gayle was named man-of-the-match for his whirlwind knock.
