Barbados hammer Guyana to keep title defence alive

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Barbados kept alive their slim hopes of retaining their TCL Group West Indies Three-day Cup Under-19 title when they scored a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Guyana yesterday.

Set a target of 100 runs for victory after Guyana were bowled out for 145 early in the day, Barbados arrived at their target at around 2:35 pm to take full points from the encounter at Jamalco.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, with an unbeaten 47, and Roston Chase, 25 not out, guided their team to victory after they lost opener Anthony Alleyne for 24.

Brathwaite and Alleyne gave Barbados a solid start of 43 before left-handed Alleyne was caught at mid-on by Alex Amsterdam off left-arm spinner Anthony Adams.

Chase then joined Brathwaite to share an unbroken second wicket stand of 58 which saw Barbados home.

Brathwaite stroked seven fours in an innings which spanned 134 minutes and 150 balls while Chase struck one six off 79 balls in 84 minutes at the crease.

The result was never in doubt despite Wednesday’s downpour that ended play at 4 pm with Guyana struggling at 95 for four in their second innings.

When they resumed yesterday, they lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 50 runs as their batting collapsed spectacularly.

Only all-rounder Amsterdam with a solid, showed any resistance among the middle order against the rampant Barbadian bowling combination of pacer, captain Jason Holder and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.

Guyana’s recover depended heavily on Jonathan Foo but he was the first to fall, caught at the wicket off the fiery Holder after adding two to his overnight 10.

Wickets continued to fall and when Amsterdam fended a lifting delivery from Holder to substitute Mario Rampersad at forward short leg to be seventh out at 124, the writing was on the wall for Guyana.

The right-arm Holder, bowling pace and hostility, grabbed five for 44 for match figures of nine for 78, to capture the Man-of-the-Match award. Warrican supported well with four for 42 to claim match figures of seven for 69. He has taken 26 wickets for the tournament while Holder has 18.