T&T claim title despite defeat to Guyana

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago survived a seven-wicket defeat to Guyana in Saturday’s final round to capture the Regional Under-15 Super50 Cup by the narrowest of margins here.

Playing at Coolidge Cricket Ground, the previously unbeaten T&T came off the worse in a shortened affair, with Guyana easily overhauling their revised target to barely miss out on the title.

In the end, T&T finished on 25.2 points with Guyana second on 25.1 points. Defending champions Barbados, who edged Windward Islands by a single run at Liberta Sports Club, ended third on 19.3 points.

Jamaica, meanwhile, who crushed Leeward Islands by 151 runs at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, finished fifth on 13.1 points, behind fourth-placed Windwards on 14.5.

Leewards, without a win in their five outings, finished last on on 1.7 points.

Opting to bat first in a crucial contest, T&T were held to 180 for two in an innings restricted to 43 overs, with Justin Jaggesar top-scoring with 73 off 113 balls.

He put on 52 for the second wicket with Kavir Boodoosingh (29) before inspiring a 113-run, unbroken third wicket partnership with Andrew Rambaran (33 not out).

In-form opener Rampertab Ramnauth then stroked a superb unbeaten 92 as Guyana marched to their target in the 31st over.

He struck 13 fours in an exciting 83-ball knock, adding 90 for the second wicket with Mavindra Dindyal whose 52 came from 43 balls and included seven fours and a six.

Zachary Jodah arrived to carve out a breezy unbeaten 32 off 35 deliveries, in an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 87 with Ramnauth.

Barbados, meanwhile, won a thriller, after successfully defending a modest total. Sent in, they were dismissed for 196 in the 43rd over, with Achilles Browne hitting 58 and Joshua Morris, 44.

Browne put on 55 for the first wicket with Micaiah Simmons (23) and a further 73 with Morris for the second wicket, before Royce Paul snatched four for 14, as Barbados lost their last nine wickets for 68 runs.

In reply, Windwards were dismissed for 195 in the 48th over with Nathan Sealy (3-21) and Isaiah Folkes (3-46) taking three wickets apiece.

They lost their first wicket without a run on the board in the first over before Abraham and Stephan Pascal put on 65 for the second wicket to steady the innings. However, six wickets then fell for 26 runs to put Barbados in command before number 10 Luke Wilson (41) and Paul (40), batting at number nine, nearly pulled off victory with a late salvo.

Jamaica ended an otherwise disappointing campaign on a high, courtesy of a wonderful unbeaten 161 from opener Adrian Weir, as they tallied 250 for two off 39 overs after being sent in.

He counted 13 fours and nine sixes off 123 balls, posting 189 for the first wicket with Kev’Aundre Virgo (45) and a further 51 for the second wicket with Jordan Johnson (9).

Odel Samuels then claimed four for 30 as the Leewards crumbled for 109 in the 29th over, with Nathan Edward top-scoring with 35.