KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Leeward Islands’ batsmen left the best for last, when they clicked, and upstaged a hundred from Rudolph Paul to lead their side to a sensational five-wicket victory over Windward Islands in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 One-day Trophy Series yesterday.
Paul struck 10 fours and two sixes in an undefeated 118 from 104 balls, as Windwards, sent in to bat, reached 295 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs in the fifth and final round match at Up Park Camp.
But the Leewards’ top four batsmen completed half-centuries and they successfully chased to reply with 297 for five and win with 14 balls to spare
Wicketkeeper/batsman Jahmar Hamilton led the way with 99, Hayden Walsh Jr scored an unbeaten 61, Shane Burton made 53, and Leewards captain Kejel Tyson got 52.
Hamilton and Tyson gave Leewards a strong start when they put on 84 for the first wicket before Hamilton and Burton added 112 for the second wicket.
Leewards’ batting continued to rally with Burton and Walsh sharing 45 for the third wicket before two wickets fell to leave them 246 for four.
But there were well within sight of the target, and Walsh with token help from the lower-order got them over the threshold.
Earlier, Windwards wobbled to 116 for six, despite a second-wicket stand of 52 between Kavem Hodge, who scored 30, and Denis Smith, who made 29.
But Paul and Audy Alexander came to the rescue of the Windwards with a stand of 149 for the seventh-wicket which significantly beefed-up the total, but it still was not enough.
