T&T crowned champions after playing unbeaten

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC – Trinidad and Tobago were crowned Regional Under-15 champions for a record eighth time when they cruised to a four-wicket victory over Guyana here Wednesday, to win the 2016 edition.

Chasing 104 for victory at Tanteen in the fifth and final round of matches, the Trinidadians reached their target off exactly 26 overs, to post their fifth consecutive win and finish on 31.5 points. Barbados and Guyana both finished on 20.8 points but the Barbadians claimed second spot by virtue of a superior net run rate in the 50-overs tournament.

Trinidad and Tobago captain and middle order batsman, Leonardo Julien … scored a half-century to ensure his side finished unbeaten.
Trinidad and Tobago captain and middle order batsman, Leonardo Julien … scored a half-century to ensure his side finished unbeaten.

Windward Islands were fourth with 13.5 while Leeward Islands were fifth with 7.9 and Jamaica last with 0.3 points, after losing all five of their outings.

T&T’s final round victory was guided by middle order batsman and captain Leonardo Julien who stroked an unbeaten 63 off 67 balls to see his side home.

He struck eight fours and a six, anchoring two stands to twice rescue the innings. When T&T slumped to 10 for two in the fifth over, he put on 36 for the third wicket with Leon Basanoo (13).  And when Basanoo and Rivaldo Ramlogan (2) fell in the space of 13 deliveries to leave T&T on 54 for four in the 16th over, Julien put on a further 43 for the fifth wicket with Antonio Gomez (8) which put the team on the brink of victory. Earlier, captain and opener Sachin Singh made 45 but Guyana were bundled out for 103 off 46.5 overs, after they were sent in. Sachin faced 76 balls and counted six fours before he was third out at 72 for three in the 26th over. Leg-spinner Sameer Ali claimed five for 17.

At Progress Park, Demetrius Richards, Seth Agard and Matthew Forde all struck half-centuries as Barbados produced a commanding performance to crush Leewards by 100 runs.

Opting to bat first, they piled up 247 for six off their 50 overs with Richards getting 76, Agard hitting 63 and Forde, 56.

Richards, who faced 96 balls and struck four fours and one six, added 58 for the third wicket with opener Agard who hit ten fours in his 114-ball stay.

Forde, who counted four fours and a six in a busy 55-ball knock, then combined with Richards to further hurt the Leewards in a 117-run, fifth wicket partnership.

In reply, the Leewards were dismissed for 147 off 30 overs with tail-ender Taiem Tonge striking an unbeaten 49 off 40 balls with five fours and two sixes. With his side tottering at 72 for nine in the 20th over, he put on 75 for the final wicket with Dishon Henry whose 23 came from 42 deliveries.

Forde completed a fine all-round performance by taking three for 28 while Tyreke Harewood (2-34) and Hans Campbelle (2-37) finished with two wickets apiece.

In the other game at La Sagesse, opener Lee Solomon smashed a stroke-filled half-century as Windward Islands cruised to an easy nine-wicket win over Jamaica. Solomon made an unbeaten 68 off 59 balls with four fours and four sixes to steer Windwards to their paltry target of 112, after Ethan Doctrove had taken four for 24, to restrict the Jamaicans to 111 for nine off their 50 overs.