GROS-ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Barbados had to settle for a draw with Windward Islands, after Kaveem Hodge stroked the first hundred of this year’s TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge yesterday.

Hodge struck 11 fours in 122 in just under 3½ hours, as Windwards, trailing by 58 on first innings, were dismissed for 353 in their second innings about half-hour before the scheduled close on the third and final day of the first round match at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Rudolph Paul supported Hodge with 64 in a 133-run stand for the fifth wicket, and Dwight Thomas made 62.

Kyle Mayers was the pick of the Barbados bowlers with four wickets for 57 runs from 17 overs, and Jomel Warrican took two for 86 from 42 overs.
The result meant that Barbados start the competition with six points, and the Windwards with three.

Barbados had an early inkling that Windwards would have made them endure the long, hard grind, when the home team reached 182 for four at lunch.

Warrican made the only early breakthrough in the morning period, when he trapped Edwards lbw for 12 in the first hour, after Windwards resumed from their overnight 72 for three.

For the next two hours, the Barbadians made little headway, as Hodge and Paul batted resolutely to put their side in a safe position.

Mayers returned to remove Paul lbw, and Warrican bowled Hodge to leave the Windwards on 286 for six at tea.

After the break, the Barbadians still could not manhandle, as Thomas farmed the bowling in a circumspect half-century before he was the penultimate wicket, caught at deep backward square leg off Ravendra Persaud.

Barbados play Leeward Islands at the same venue in the second round starting tomorrow, when the Windwards host Trinidad & Tobago at Dennery Playing Field.