….Barbados set for outright win against Jamaica

Solid contributions from vice-captain Saiba Battoosingh (45 not out), Keagan Simmons (55), Dejourn Charles (40), skipper Kirstan Kallicharan (20) and Jonathan Bootan (27) enabled Trinidad and Tobago Under19s to secure first innings points in a gripping second round match against Windward Islands at the Park Hill playing field, St Vincent & Grenadines yesterday.Having resumed at 70 runs for 4 wickets on their overnight position on the first day, Windward Islands posted 204 (57.1 overs) in their first innings while Trinidad and Tobago closed the second day’s play at 212 for 9 in 66 overs.
The fortunes fluctuated with Trinidad and Tobago gaining the upper-hand in the final stages after Windwards number eight Othneil James produced a hurricane 82 that was embellished with eight mighty sixes and four fours off 53 balls and threatened to give his team a very challenging total after they were struggling at 128 for 8.
James and Darron Nedd (8 not out) featured in an 83-run ninth wicket stand provided much impetus to the Windwards team. Off-spinner Jonathan Bootan finished with four wickets for 31 runs and was supported by skipper Kallicharan (3 for 31) and quickie Jarlanie Seales (2 for 56).
T&T’s openers Keagan Simmons and Charles set the stage for the charge for first innings points with an enterprising 87-run stand for the first wicket. But they were in dire straits after they lost five wickets for an addition of 45 runs in 25.5 overs.
Charles 40 (1×6 and 5x4s off 47 balls) was first to go followed by Cephas Cooper who played cautiously and faced 16 balls before he was caught off Othneil Lewis for three runs to make it 94 for 2. Simmons (hit six fours off 101 balls for his 55) was dismissed at 112 while Kallicharan 20 (2x4s off 56 balls) and Bootan 27 (2x6s and 1×4 off 24 balls) shared useful partnerships with Battoosingh who played responsibly and rallied the lower order to overhaul Windwards total.
In his undefeated knock, Batoosingh stroked four fours off 99 balls but more importantly he got the T&T team ahead of their opponents.
In the other match, Barbados took first innings points and is in strong position to push for outright victory against Jamaica at Sion Hill playing field.
Set a victory target of 178 runs, Jamaica lost two quick wickets for one run in their second innings and faces an uphill task to avoid defeat unless their other batsmen produce something special.
Scores at Soon Hill: Barbados 149 all out in 63.1 overs (Nicholas Kirton 42, Yvan Grant 24, Shem Watson 28, Joshua Bishop 30; Michael Frew 4 for 62, Brad Barnes 3 for 18, Andre Bailey 2 for 6) and 153 all out in 48.3 overs (Kirton 59, Kilano Brathwaite 22, Jeavor Royal 3 for 30, Frew 2 for 41, Barnes 2 for 32 and Javelle Green 2 for 23) versus Jamaica 125 all out in 55 overs (Jordane Hill 38, Barnes 25; Joshua Bishop 6 for 53, Dante Niles 2 for 25) and 1 run for 2 wickets in 2 overs.