GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Barbados nabbed the WICB Regional Under-19 One-Day title yesterday after producing a fabulous all-round performance to smother Trinidad and Tobago by nine wickets in their final round clash. Powered by excellent half-centuries from captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Jonathan Drakes, Barbados cantered to 194 for one off 42.4 overs, to overhaul T&T’s moderate 193 off 48.4 overs.
Winning the toss and bowling, Barbados were spearheaded by seamer Justin Greaves who snatched five for 37, and off-spinner Chaim Holder who finished with three for 45, to restrict the Trinidadians at the Demerara Cricket Club ground.
Brathwaite then stroked an unbeaten 76 and Jonathan Drakes got 84, as Barbados easily reached their total to end on 26.8 points.
Trinidad and Tobago finished second overall on 15.9 points while Windward Islands were third on 13.4 points.
The defending one-day champions, T&T started well with Kieron Joseph (27) and Christian Herrera (23) adding 52 for the first wicket.
Both fell in the space of four balls with no run added to leave T&T having to start over. Akeal Hosein and Emmanuel Lett repaired the innings with a positive 60 for the third wicket.
Hosein stroked the top score of 44 off 57 balls and struck two sixes and two fours while Lett supported with 22.
After Lett edged Holder behind at 112, wickets fell steadily as T&T slumped to 138 for five as Holder and Greaves destroyed the middle order.
Derone Davis revived the innings with a knock of 28, dominating a 39-run stand for the sixth wicket with captain Steven Katwaroo (9), before the last five wickets tumbled for 16 runs.
With one hand on the title, Barbados got a superb century opening stand from Brathwaite and Drakes to all but put the game to bed.
The right-handed Brathwaite, the only Test player in the tournament, slammed 76 off 117 balls with four fours while Drakes’ 84 required 117 balls and included four fours and two sixes.
Brathwaite, who struggled in the three-day tournament, finished the one-day campaign with three half-centuries and 297 runs at a brilliant average of 99.
Drakes missed out on three figures when he edged a drive at fast bowler Philton Williams to wicketkeeper Katwaroo, but Anthony Alleyne strode to the wicket to hit an unbeaten 25 and help see Barbados home.