… two Jamaica batsmen hit centuries

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Guyana remained the only unbeaten team in the Regional Under-15 Tournament after play here yesterday, but hundreds for local boys Dominic Samuels and Kirk McKenzie held sway.The Guyanese defied a bout of stage fright in the middle of their innings to prevail over holders Trinidad & Tobago by four wickets to clinch their third straight victory in the top-of-the-table clash.
But Samuels and McKenzie set tongues wagging with their individual milestones that lifted hosts Jamaica to a comprehensive 163-run victory over Leewards.
In the other match, opener Nico Reifer narrowly missed out on making the third hundred of the day to help set Barbados up for a tense 16-run victory over Windward Islands.
At Mona: Opener Joshua Persaud led all scorers with 42 and Steve Deonarine made 35, as Guyana successfully chased 172 for victory with 26 balls remaining.
Persaud and Alphius Bookie with 25 put on 65 for the second wicket, but they were part of a slide that left the Guyanese 89 for four.
Deonarine and Kevin Sinclair with 19 then came to the rescue of Guyana with a stand of 53 for the fifth wicket that put them back on course.
Nathaniel McDavid and Justin Gangoo grabbed two wickets apiece for T&T, who were restricted to 171 for nine in their allocation of 50 overs, after they were put in to bat.
Several batsmen got starts, but no one carried on. Brandon Singh’s 28 was the top score, Cephas Cooper added 27, McDavid 26, Leonardo Julien was not out 23, Kirstan Kallicharran got 22 and opener Navin Bedaisee 21.
Ashmead Nedd was the pick of the Guyana bowlers with the flattering figures of 10-1-15-2.
At Kensington Park: Samuels continued his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 111 off 90 balls that included 14 fours and one six and McKenzie hit top form with the same score that contained 10 boundaries from 167 balls, as Jamaica, choosing to bat, amassed 307 for two from their 50 overs.
McKenzie, a left-hander opener, and Samuels, a rugged right-hander, added 235 unbroken for the third wicket after Zawandi White struck twice in quick succession to leave the Jamaicans 72 for two.
Leewards were never able to make a serious challenge of the total and were dismissed in 41.1 overs with Raewin Senior grabbing 3-18 from 6.1 overs to lead Jamaica’s bowling.
Uri Smith led the way for Leewards with 44 and White, opening the batting, made 25, but no other batsman reached 20.
At Elletson Road: Reifer struck nine fours and one six in an unbeaten 95 from 143 balls to anchor Barbados to 235 for six from their 50 overs, after they chose to bat.
Reifer saved the Barbadians after they ran into early difficulty on 12 for two, and he gained support from Kilano Brathwaite with 45 in a stand of 53 for the third wicket.
After this, there was steady batting the rest of the way with Joshua Bishop, their captain, making 37 and Marc Cyrus 22.
Johnnel Eugene hit an enterprising 60 off 67 balls that included four fours and four sixes that held the Windwards’ innings together, but they kept losing wickets every time it looked like they were building something promising.
The Tournament resumes on Monday after a weekend break with Guyana returning to UWI Mona to face Windwards, Jamaica hosting T&T at Elletson Road and Leewards clashing with Barbados at Melbourne Oval.

Summarised scores:
At Mona: Guyana Under-15s beat T&T Under-15s by four wickets. T&T Under-15s 171 for nine off 50 overs (Brandon Singh 28, Cephas Cooper 27, Nathaniel McDavid 26, Leonardo Julien 23 not out, Kirstan Kallicharran 22, Navin Bedaisee 21; Ashmead Nedd 2-15, Stephen Kamaladeen 2-38). Guyana Under-15s 172 for six off 45.4 overs (Joshua Persaud 42, Steve Deonarine 35, Alphius Bookie 25; Nathaniel McDavid 2-27, Justin Gangoo 2-30).

At Kensington Park: Jamaica Under-15s beat Leewards Under-15s by 163 runs. Jamaica Under-15s 307 for two off 50 overs (Dominic Samuels 111 not out, Kirk McKenzie 111 not out, Dorrel Thomas 32; Zawandi White 2-33). Leewards Under-15s 144 off 41.1 overs (Uri Smith 44, Zawandi White 25; Raewin Senior 3-18, Duke Reid 2-31, Sanjay Williams 2-34).

At Elletson Road: Barbados Under-15s beat Windwards Under-15s by 16 runs. Barbados Under-15s 235 for six off 50 overs (Nico Reifer 95, Kilano Brathwaite 45, Joshua Bishop 37, Marc Cyrus 22; Simeon Gerson 2-32). Windwards Under-15s 219 for eight off 50 overs (Johnnel Eugene 60, Dane Edwards 33, Urnel Thomas 30 not out, Tahj Tavernier 24, Obadele Joseph 20, Johann Jeremiah 20; Camarie Boyce 2-30). (WICB)