Clinical Guyana eye title after edging hosts

Zeynul Ramsammy

KINGSTON, Jamaica,  CMC – Guyana remained unbeaten and on course for the 2018 Regional Under-15 title while reigning champions Barbados continued their comeback, in the fourth round of matches here Monday.

Playing at Port Esquivel Sports Club in St Catherine, Guyana edged hosts Jamaica by four runs while at Ewarton Sports Complex in the same parish, Barbados crushed Leeward Islands by 140 runs.

Mavindra Dindyal

In the other match played, Trinidad and Tobago defeated Windward Islands by 47 runs in Chedwin Park.

In the key game, Guyana posted a competitive 181 for six off their 50 overs with skipper Zeynul Ramsammy top-scoring with 72, Romel Datterdeen hitting an unbeaten 43 and Mavendra Dindyal chipping in with 33.

Guyana were slumping at seven for two before Ramsammy posted 57 for the third wicket with Dindyal, 41 for the fourth wicket with Jonathan Rampersaud (7) and a further 47 with Datterdeen for the fifth.

All told, Ramsammy faced 137 deliveries and struck five fours.

In reply, Jamaica looked on course for victory when Jordan Johnson made 56 and opening partner Adrian Weir, 48, in a partnership of 112.

But once the stand was broken, the hosts lost a clatter of wickets to end on 177 or eight, with Jeremy Sandia the best bowler with four for 29.

Meanwhile, Barbados used a strong batting performance to rattle off their third

Romel Datterdeen

straight win after losing their opening match, amassing 252 for four off their 50 overs.

Opener Jaden Leacock top-scored with 86 while left-handed partner Jacob Bethell stroked 81, as the pair posted 176 for the first wicket.

Leacock faced 139 balls and counted seven fours while Bethell also sturck seven boundaries in a 124-ball knock.

Off-spinner Tariq O’Neale then picked up four for 15 to send the Leewards crashing to 112 all out int he 44th over.

T&T also flaunted their impressive batting strength, gathering 236 for five off 50 overs with Andrew Rambaran getting 71 and Narad Kissoondath, 56, in an opening stand of 146.

The Windwards made a good fist of it in reply before falling short at 189 all out in the 48th over, with Divonie Joseph (55) and Yawani Joseph (54) hitting half-centuries.