PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Barbados were crowned champions of the CWI Rising Stars Under 17 two-day Championship on Thursday, sealing the title with a dominant 10-wicket victory over the Windward Islands at Queen’s Park Oval in the final round.
The title was built on the back of a phenomenal bowling display by Justin Parris, whose match figures of 9 for 46 dismantled the Windwards and underscored Barbados’s superiority throughout the competition.
After skittling the Windwards for a paltry 91 in their first innings, thanks to Parris’s 5-15, Barbados posted a commanding 195 for 9 declared.
Despite a fight from Aravinda Bishop, who took 6-47 for the Windwards, the Bajan total proved more than enough.
Forced to follow on, the Windwards could only muster 131 in their second innings, with Parris again the chief destroyer, claiming 4-31.
Barbados needed just six overs to knock off the required 29 runs without losing a wicket, emphatically securing the championship.
The final round of matches saw a clean sweep of victories across the board. At the National Cricket Centre, hosts Trinidad and Tobago finally broke their duck, securing a convincing 10-wicket win over Jamaica.
The victory was set up by a magnificent 7-37 from Ra’ed Ali Khan in Jamaica’s first innings, which restricted them to 142. A solid batting response, led by Saleem Khan’s 68, gave T&T a crucial first-innings lead.
Roberto Badree then sealed the deal with 4-16 in the second innings, leaving T&T a simple target of 34, which they chased down effortlessly.
Meanwhile, at Inshan Ali Park, the Leeward Islands eased to an eight-wicket win over Guyana. Jathan Edward was the star with the ball, taking 4-34 in Guyana’s first innings and 3-29 in the second to keep the opposition’s totals low.
A composed, unbeaten 64 from Tanez Francis in the run chase guided the Leewards home comfortably.
With the two-day format concluded, attention now turns to the 50-Over Cup, which commences on August 24 and runs through to September 1.