Tyler Venner and Bjorn Fanis shared five wickets, and captain Theo Edward top-scored with 36 runs, but the Windward Islands fell by four runs to Jamaica in their West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-17 50-Over Championship opener. Action got underway on Sunday at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
Windward Islands captain Edward called the toss correctly and elected to field first. Venner got the Islanders off to a fabulous start, with three wickets inside the first 12 overs, and only 27 runs on the tins for Jamaica.
Demarco Scott and Odane Binns were separated just 13 runs on, as Elran Glasgow struck in the 15th over. But Scott found a willing collaborator in Ryan Littleton, with whom he added 66 for the fifth wicket. Scott was run out for 36.
Another run out left the Jamaicans 116-6 in the 29th over. But Littleton and Joel Williams pressed on with a 73-run partnership that ended only when Fanis enticed Littleton to give Edward a bit of catching practice. Littleton was dismissed for a relatively brisk 70, having used up only 76 balls. That was the last significant stand for Jamaica, who ended on 217-9.
Windward Islands, then, needed 218 runs to win. After five overs, they were right on track at 21 without loss, Edward on 14 from 17 balls.
But the rains came, causing a protracted delay. Just one further over was bowled over the next two hours, with Edward adding seven runs to his tally.
Upon resumption two hours after the covers had been pulled on, the Windwards were handed a target of 122 in 23 overs.
Edward had hit six fours by the end of the 10th over, and the Windwards were well placed at 62 without loss. But the Jamaicans saw his back in the 11th over, having contributed 36 off 39 balls. Fellow opener Damali Phillips fell in the following over, for 25 off 27 deliveries, inclusive of two fours and a six.
Even after Khavaughn Bartholomew went for three at the end of the 13th over, the required run rate was a manageable 4.7 per over.
Demarco Scott kept things reasonably tight in the closing overs with his off breaks. After giving up 13 in his first six balls, his next 30 legal deliveries allowed only 17 runs. He produced a maiden in the 20th over, after yielding just one in the 14th, and four in the 12th.
The Windward Islands concluded their innings on 117-5. Saint Lucia’s Johnathan Daniel contributed 22 from 25 balls, comprising a four and a six.
Theo Edwawrd and his lads next take on hosts Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday at Gilbert Park.
(TF)
