BARBADOS held their nerves collectively to escape with a two-wicket victory over the West Indies Under-19s in the WICB President’s Cup yesterday.

After restricting the Under-19s to 172 for six from their allocation of 40 overs, Barbados limped to 177 for eight from 38.4 overs to secure victory with eight deliveries to spare in the weather-affected, first round match at Bourda Oval.

Having been reduced to 141 for eight in the 34th over, the Barbadians were in danger of falling at the hands of the youngsters.

But beanpole West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn hit a courageous, unbeaten 27 from 20 deliveries to seal the victory, and bring a huge sigh of relief to the tense Barbadian dressing room.

After losing an hour and 45 minutes due to a wet outfield caused by overnight and early morning rain, the match was reduced to 40 overs-a-side.

The Under-19s chose to bat and they approached their batting with much caution early, before Evin Lewis stroked seven boundaries in 53 from 76 deliveries to give their total a late boost.

Teenage batting sensation Kraigg Brathwaite supported with 48 from 95 balls, and caressed three deliveries to the boundary on what remained a damp outfield throughout the contest. He added 73 for the second wicket with Lewis.

Yannick Ottley, the stand-in Under-19 captain for Andre Creary, who is carrying a groin injury, added some beef to the total with an unbeaten 35 from 40 balls. He put on 48 for the third wicket with Lewis.

A flurry of wickets in the 36th over pegged the youngsters back, as the Barbadians – dogged by poor ground fielding – managed to keep the score in the realm of modesty.

All-rounder Dwayne Smith bagged two wickets for 27 runs from his allotted eight overs.

When their chase commenced, Barbados suffered an early setback, when Rashidi Boucher was trapped lbw for two.

Top-scorer Martin Nurse and captain Ryan Hinds plugged away for a 43-run partnership, but a quartet of feisty Under-19 spinners then put the pressure on the Barbadians.

The match swung in favour of the West Indies Under-19s, when they reduced Barbados to 113 for six in the 26th over.

The Barbadians then slipped further before an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 36 between Benn and Kemar Roach saw them over the threshold.

Under-19 leg-spinner Akeem Dewar won the Man-of-the-Match award for his three for 23 from eight overs. He also had two catches put down off him, bowled a probing line, and repeatedly beat the tentative Barbadian batsmen with bounce and spin. (CMC)