Barbados lose opener, Guyana dominate with batting

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Title-holders Barbados started their campaign on a losing note then they went down to eight-time champions Trinidad and Tobago, in the opening round of the Regional Under-15 Championship here Wednesday.

Chasing a modest 109 for victory at Sabina Park, T&T romped to their target in the 40th over, to complete a fairly comfortable five-wicket victory.

T&T looked in dire straits when they declined to seven for three early in their innings but Nick Ramlal struck a crucial unbeaten 38 and Sachin Emrit, 22, to pull their side out of trouble.

They put on 59 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand after the innings had further slumped to 50 for five.

Earlier, Barbados experienced a similarly dodgy start, slipping to 18 for three before Tariq O’Neale (28) and captain Numar Bolden (20) repaired the damage.

Andrew Rambaran Ramlal (3-13) and fellow left-arm spinner Ramlal (3-39) claimed three wickets apiece.

At Kensington Park, Guyana put their strong batting on show to whip Windward Islands by 70 runs.

Sent in, Guyana posted 224 for nine off their 50 overs with opener Shamar Yearwood stroking a top score of 75 and Mavendra Dindyal getting 59.

The pair put on 141 for the second wicket after Guyana found themselves in trouble at nine for one. Leg-spinner Ackeem Auguste finished with five for 33.

In reply, Kervyn Gangadeen struck 34 and Stephan Pascal, 23, but Mahendra Gopilall (3-25) and Chanderpaul Ramraj (3-28) grabbed three wickets apiece to send Windwards tumbling for 154 in the 45th over.

Hosts Jamaica also made a positive start to their campaign when they beat Leeward Islands by 73 runs at Melbourne Oval, thanks to 51 from Sanjay Walker and a four-wicket haul from Jordan Johnson.