Barbados seal Rising Stars U19 crown early as Jamaica thrash Windwards

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Barbados have retained the CWI Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 50-over Championship after a commanding Saturday win over Trinidad and Tobago in the fourth of five rounds. The holders are now 4-0 and, with the Leeward Islands falling to Guyana, cannot be caught when the final round is played today. Jamaica also collected a heavy win, overpowering the Windward Islands in the day’s other fixture.

At Pigotts Sports Ground, Barbados sealed another title with a six-wicket triumph over Trinidad and Tobago. That result left them unbeaten at 4-0, while the teams closest to them sit on 2-2 records. The contest tilted firmly Barbados’ way once Trinidad and Tobago were dismissed for 141 in 37.1 overs, with Rajeev Parsooram taking five wickets. Barbados briefly stumbled by losing both openers without many runs, then steadied to finish on 142 for four in 31.1 overs.

Trinidad and Tobago looked set for a stronger total while openers Christian Lall and Levi Ghanny put on 92 together. Parsooram ended that stand when Lall was caught for 54 from 63 deliveries. Raphael Lovell then had Ghanny stumped for 25, and cheap dismissals of Tariq Richards, Christiano Ramanan and Renaldo Fournillier left the side 110 for five after 26 overs. Parsooram closed with 5-35; Justin Parris returned 2-9 and Lovell 2-21.

At Bethesda Sports Ground, Jamaica piled a 114-run defeat on the still-winless Windward Islands. An unbroken hundred from opener Tyson Gordon Jr, plus fifties from captain Odane Binns and Demarco Scott, lifted Jamaica to 252 for three from their 50 overs. The Windward Islands’ batting then collapsed, Perico Henry’s four wickets helping bowl them out for 139 in 25.3 overs.

Henry removed Earshino Fontaine, Zach Thomas and Tyler Venner in a rapid spell that left the Windwards 51 for six. Cody Fontinelle’s 47 was the main reason they cleared 100, though the result was already settled. Henry finished with 4-28 and Joel Williams took 2-25.

Earlier, Gordon Jr and Binns built a 103-run opening stand that shaped Jamaica’s innings. Binns eventually went for 55 from 97 balls, and the quick loss of Demario Hall and Pajay Nelson left Jamaica 141 for three. Gordon Jr, unbeaten on 102 from 132 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, then added an unbroken 111 with Scott, who was 52 not out from 45 balls, as Jamaica posted a total that proved far too many.