GROS-ISLET, St. Lucia, (CMC) – A stroke-filled innings from Jermaine Blackwood ensured defending champions Jamaica came away with a draw against Trinidad & Tobago in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge yesterday.

Blackwood struck 12 fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 90 from 81 balls in just under two hours, as Jamaica, chasing 251 for victory, reached 165 for six in their second innings.

T&T, leading by 41 on first innings, had declared their second innings on 209 for five about 45 minutes before tea in a vain pursuit of victory.

The result meant that T&T earned six points, and Jamaica just three.

T&T battle Windward Islands at the Dennery Playing Field in the second round starting on Monday, at the same Jamaica tackle Guyana at the Gros-Islet Playing Field.

Jamaica reached 35 for three at tea, and found themselves on 52 for five after the break.

But Blackwood came to the crease, and battered the T&T bowling to ease Jamaican concerns about their fate.

Blackwood dominated a sixth-wicket stand of 60 with Bryan Gayle, after Teshawn Castro had threatened to make the reigning champions eat humble pie early.

Castro completed a fine all-round performance over the second half of the game, ending with three wickets for 26 runs from six overs to be the pick of the T&T bowlers. 

Earlier, Castro struck nine fours in the top score of 58 from 102 balls in just over two hours, and Nicholas Alexis hit 11 fours in 54 from 92 balls in just over 1 ½ hours to lead T&T’s batting a second time around.

The two openers shared 98 for the first wicket, after T&T resumed from their overnight total of 39 without loss.

Donovan Nelson took four wickets for 40 runs from 11 overs, as the Jamaicans turned the tables, and left T&T wobbling on 134 for five.

But Akeal Hosein scored 34 not out, and Evin Lewis made 32 not out in an unbroken stand of 75 for the sixth wicket that hastened T&T to their declaration.