KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):
Two destructive spells and three half-centuries were the headline acts in the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 three-day championship on Thursday in St Vincent.
The destructive spells came from the Windward Islands off-spinner Tarrique Edward and Barbados captain and left-arm spinner Nathan Sealy gave their sides the edge against Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, respectively, on the first day of the second round of matches.
One of the half-centuries came from Sealy’s teammate Zion Brathwaite, and the other two from the pair of Jordan Johnson and Justin Beckford, which helped Jamaica pile up the highest total of the day against defending champions Leeward Islands.
AT CUMBERLAND: Left-hander Jordan continued in his rich vein of form from the preceding One-day tournament and smashed seven fours and four sixes in 97 from 127 balls, and Beckford clubbed only two fours, but six sixes, in 72 from 76 balls to give Jordan brutal support before Jamaica were bowled out for 297 in their first innings.
Malique Walsh was the most successful Leewards bowler, taking three for 43 from 12 overs, but none of the champions’ bowlers were spared from the assault of Jordan and Beckford.
Leewards were 25 without loss in reply at the close.
AT ARNOS VALE: Edward returned the flattering figures of five for four from 10 overs, and Guyana were bowled out for 69 in their first innings.
Kirtney Franklyn and Kirt Murray supported with two wickets apiece for the hosts, but Shamar Yearwood, batting at four, defied the Windwards attack to hit the top score of 20 and was the only batsman to get that many.
The Windwards were within reach of a first-innings lead thanks to 23 from Stephen Pascal, but they were wobbling on 60 for five when stumps were drawn.
AT PARK HILL: Sealy grabbed five for 37 from 16 overs, and Trinidad & Tobago were bowled out for 165 in their first innings.
A handful of the T&T batsmen got starts, but none carried on – Andrew Rambarran led the way 39, Justin Jagessar scored 35, Rajeev Ramnath got 31, and Kyle Ramdoo added 23.
Brathwaite struck eight fours in 51 from 62 balls and shared a half-century opening stand with Achilles Browne before he was dismissed and Barbados reached 107 for one in reply at stumps.
Joshua Dorne, not out on 31, and Browne, not out on 22, batted through the remainder of the day to put the Barbadians within sight of a first-innings lead.