BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados crowned themselves champions of the Regional Under-15 Championship when they beat Trinidad and Tobago by 15 runs in the final round of the tournament here yesterday.
Needing just a point to clinch their fourth title, Barbados claimed full honours from the contest at North Stars in the rural northern parish of St Lucy, ending on 26.4 points.
Leeward Islands, meanwhile, finished second on 19.8 points after beating Windward Islands by 59 runs at Windward Cricket club while Guyana, who finished fourth on 14.7 points, snatched a 26-run win over Jamaica at St Catherine.
Windwards finished third on 13.9 points, Jamaica were fifth on 7.6 while win-less Trinidad and Tobago were last on 1.7.
In the key fixture, leaders Barbados were dismissed for 172 off 43.3 overs after opting to bat first, with Che Simmons holding the innings together with a top score of 47 not out while Thierry Walcott got 23.
The hosts were stumbling at 102 for seven in the 26th over until Simmons arrived to add 34 for the eighth wicket with captain Renacko Belgrave (19) and 34 for the last wicket with Jordan Knight (6).
Justin Manick (2-22) and Darren Samlal (2-34) finished with two wickets apiece.
In reply, opener Aaron Bankay struck an unbeaten 62 while Tariq Mohammed got 45 but both were sluggish innings and T&T found themselves short of their target when the 50 overs were completed.
Bankay faced 150 balls and struck four boundaries while Mohammed hit four fours and a six off 94 deliveries, in a 92-run second wicket stand.
Simmons returned to complete a strong all-round performance, taking two for 28.
The Leewards also turned in a strong showing with the ball to successfully defend their modest total.
Sent in, the Leewards were dismissed for 138 off 42.3 overs with Clinton Reece getting 28 and Kenny Sutton scoring 20.
With the innings headed in the wrong direction at 59 for six in the 17th over, Sutton and Reece combined in a 42-run seventh wicket stand to propel their side past triple figures.
Kervyn Gangadeen was the best bowler with three for 13 while Keygan Arnold took two for 23.
In reply, the Windwards were bundled out for 79 with Jaden Carmichael destroying the innings with four for 30 and Carlton Tuckett getting two for 19.
Guyana, too, ensured they finished their campaign on a winning note, tallying 139 for nine off 42 overs with Anthony Williams top-scoring with 35 and Ricardo Ramdeholl hitting 26.
Brandon English was the best bowler with three for 20.
Jamaica then faltered in their run chase, falling to 113 all out off 40.2 overs, despite Shemar Phillips’s 32.
Andre Seepersaud (2-8), Sheldon Charles (2-21), Guarav Ramesh (2-23) and Romel Retemiah (2-28) all took two wickets each.
