DENNERY, St Lucia (CMC) – John Campbell’s belligerent half-century piloted Jamaica to a stirring four-wicket victory over Barbados, as the defending champions finished the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 One-Day Trophy on a high yesterday.
The dashing 16-year-old left-hander slammed a stroke-filled 77 from just 56 balls which propelled Jamaica to 238 for six, overhauling Barbados’ 236 for nine from their allotted 43 overs. Jamaica’s efforts, however, were not enough as the win took them to 10 points, four behind Trinidad and Tobago who beat Guyana by five wickets in Micoud to end on 14 points and lift the title.
Sent in after play started an hour and a half late because of wet conditions at the Dennery Playing field, Barbados got a superb knock of 92 from Kyle Mayers and a patient innings of 44 from captain Kraigg Brathwaite, to reach their eventual total.
They were undermined, however, by leg-spinner Donovan Nelson who claimed a brilliant six for 33 to lead Jamaica’s attack.
Barbados started poorly when they lost Clint St Hill for one in the second over with the score on five but Brathwaite and Roston Chase combined in a 70-run, second-wicket stand to steady the innings.
Brathwaite struck five fours and a six and faced 70 balls while Chase’s 39 comprised five boundaries and required 60 balls.
When Brathwaite was bowled by Campbell’s off-spin in the 20th over, Chase and Mayers posted another 30 for the third wicket before Chase lofted medium pacer Peat Salmon to Nelson at mid-off to fall at 105 in the 28th over.
Mayers then assumed responsibility for the innings, cracking four fours and 10 massive sixes off just 68 balls, to give Barbados impetus.
He was one of four wickets to fall to Nelson in the 43rd over for just one run, when he was caught at cover by Jermaine Blackwood at 235 for six.
Campbell then underlined Jamaica’s run chase, slamming six fours and six sixes in posting a frenetic 57 for the first wicket with Salmon who got 18 before being run-out in the seventh over.
When the left-hander eventually perished at 115 for three, captain Paul Palmer stroked 23 and Orane Williams hit 41 from 49 balls with three fours and two sixes, to repair the innings in a 61-run partnership.
Both fell within a run of each other at 177 for five, but a 55-run stand for the sixth wicket between Kemar Marshall and Blackwood guided the Jamaicans to within sight of victory.
Marshall stroked 34 from 38 balls with three fours and two sixes while Blackwood finished unbeaten on 24.