KINGSTON, Jamaica – Enterprising hundreds from Dane Edward and Johnnel Eugene were the main attractions when Windward Islands earned a crucial 66-run victory and handed Guyana their first defeat in the Regional Under-15 Tournament on Monday here.Edwards hit 116 and Eugene supported with an undefeated 104 from 106 balls, as the sub-regional side, choosing to bat, posted a challenging 279 for six from their allocation of 50 overs in their fourth round match.
The Guyanese entered the match leading the standings, but their challenge fizzled following a century-opening stand between their captain Bhaskar Yadram and wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Persaud and they were restricted to 213 for eight from their 50 overs.
Meanwhile, Guyanese coach Julian Moore expressed disappointment about losing ace spinner Sagar Hatairmani, who had to return home due to the untimely death of his mother.
“That was a setback for us, but not taking anything away from the Windwards. I thought they played good cricket…I thought they batted well, but this is just a setback for us and we will get it right,” he explained.
At the same time, purposeful bowling led by Nathaniel McDavid helped Trinidad & Tobago restore their chances following the Guyanese defeat when they stopped hosts Jamaica by eight wickets at Elletson Road, and solid batting led by Micah Thornhill and Kilano Brathwaite allowed Barbados to move up after they beat Leeward Islands by 72 runs.
The results mean that Guyana enter the final round of matches leading the table with 18.8 points, T&T are second with 18.7, Barbados are third with 13.4, hosts Jamaica are fourth on 13, Windwards are fifth on 12.4 and Leewards are last on 0.2.
In the final round today Guyana face Jamaica at Melbourne Oval, Windwards meet Leewards at Elletson Road and Barbados play T&T at Up Park Camp.
At UWI Mona: Edwards slammed nine fours and three sixes from 110 balls and Eugene cracked 11 fours and one six from 106 balls to lead the Windwards batting.
Edwards dominated a second-wicket stand of 82 with Obadele Joseph to give the Windwards early momentum before he added 92 for the third wicket with Eugene.
After Edwards was dismissed, Eugene, son of former Windwards batsman John Eugene, was the glue that kept the rest of the batting going.
Yadram then hit three fours in the top score of 56 from 88 balls and Persaud made 46, sharing 103 for the first wicket.
Once Johann Jeremiah held a return catch to dismiss Persaud, the floodgates opened and the Guyanese were powerless to stop the flow of wickets,
At Elletson Road: T&T captain Kirstan Kallicharran counted nine fours and one six in an unbeaten 60 from 65 balls and shared an unbroken, third-wicket stand of 76 with Cephas Cooper, as T&T successfully chased 130 for victory over Jamaica and reached their target with 163 balls remaining.
McDavid had returned the flattering figures of 6-3-5-4, Cooper supported with 3-40 from 9.4 overs and Justin Gangoo 2-18 from six overs, as the Jamaicans, sent in to bat, were dismissed for a modest 120 in 45.4 overs.
A handful of players reached double figures for Jamaica, but none them reached 20.
At Melbourne Oval: Thornhill led solid batting with 64 from 61 balls that contained 10 fours and one six, as Barbados compiled 292 for six from their 50 overs, after they chose to bat.
Thornhill drove the innings early, putting on 79 for the third wicket with Joshua Corbin, whose 47 from 70 balls included eight fours.
After Thornhill departed to leave the Barbadians 164 for five, Brathwaite continued to push things along, smashing 10 fours in 63 from 60 balls and leading a stand of 75 with Marco St Hill before he was dismissed in the closing stages.
Leewards failed to establish any meaningful partnerships, losing wickets at regular periods and were restricted to 220 for seven in their 50 overs. (WICB)