GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Test batsman Kraigg Brathwaite stroked a solid half-century to pilot Barbados to a handsome nine-wicket win over Jamaica in the opening round of WICB Regional Under-19 One-Day Championship yesterday. The right-hander, who played a single Test against Pakistan earlier this year, hammered an unbeaten 84 as Barbados easily overhauled Jamaica’s mediocre 155 for nine off 50 overs at the Guyana National Stadium.
Winning the toss and batting, Jamaica were limited by off-spinner Anthony Alleyne who snared four for 23.
Aldaine Thomas top-scored for 38, Oshane Walters got 28 while Krishna Graham stroked 23.
In their run chase, Barbados lost Shane Parris for an aggressive 21 with the score on 34 but Brathwaite and Shai Hope, who was unbeaten on 47, saw their side home with an unbroken second-wicket stand of 122.
Brathwaite, a stoic left-hander, faced 123 balls and cracked six fours while Hope hit three fours off 90 balls.
Parris lashed four boundaries off 25 balls but perished in the seventh over attempting another big shot, caught at mid-off by Tajay Edwards off off-spinner John Campbell.
Jamaica’s hopes of making further inroads were then dashed as Brathwaite and Hope emerged from tentative starts to score freely.
They raised the 50-partnership off 115 balls then reached triple figures off 30.3 overs, as Jamaica struggled to break the stand.
Earlier, Jamaica suffered a big setback when they lost their stroke-maker John Campbell for four with the score on eight, caught at mid off by Hope attempting to hit left-arm seamer Ravindra Persaud over the top.
Walters then hit three fours off 43 balls and Thomas, two fours off 97 balls, as they repaired the innings with a 52-run second-wicket stand.
When Walters perished caught and bowled by medium pacer Kyle Mayers, Chrishna Graham (23) joined Thomas to add another 44 for the third wicket.
Alleyne got his first wicket when he prised out Graham to a catch by Brathwaite at mid-off and also accounted for Walters, stumped by Mario Rampersaud.
At 115 for four, Jamaica never recovered as their last five wickets fell for 40 runs, with Barbados’ bowlers stifling the middle and lower order.