A responsible innings of 27 from tail ender Suleiman Benn helped Barbados defeat the West Indies Under-19 team yesterday at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda when the 2009 WICB President’s cup Limited overs tournament bowled off.
The game was reduced to 40 overs-a-side due to slight overnight and early morning showers and the young Windies batting first did well to reach 172-6.
Evin Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago led the Windies Under-19 batting with a well-played 53 and elegant Barbados opening batsman Kraigg Braithwaite was his usual self, battering the Bajans bowling for 48 runs which was decorated with three beautifully stroked fours.
Skipper Ryan Hinds had the best bowling figures for the men from the Land of the Flying Fish, picking up one wicket for 25 runs from eight overs two of which were maidens while Benn chipped in with one wicket for 47 runs.
In reply Barbados struggled to 176-8 as the Windies Under-19s show grit and determination.
Opener Martin Nurse started like a house on fire but his fiery innings of 40; decorated with six fours and one six came to an end when Jamaican leg spinner Akeem Dewar had him caught at cover by Nicholson Gordon while Rashidi Boucher was trapped leg before for two runs by Nelson Benn.
Things looked dim for Barbados when Hinds was bowled by Gordon and the few spectators that gathered at the venue were all rallying around the young West Indies team.
Alcindo Holder was caught and bowled by Dewar for seven runs but the flashy Dwayne Smith coming to the crease in Twenty/20 mode, struck a Dewar delivery out of the ground and onto Regent Street.
Showing that he can hold his composure Dewar bowled fuller delivery and Smith trying to emulate his previous shot was out LBW after loud and convincing appeals by the Under-19 players.
In trouble, Barbados responded by taking their batting power play in the 33rd over.
They lost Kirk Edwards, who was caught by wicket keeper Shane Dowrich of Cariah for 31 but the lanky Benn and fast bowler Kemar Roach saw their team home.
