Jamaica ease past Leewards

GROS-ISLET, St. Lucia (CMC):

Paul Palmer and Jermaine Blackwood shared 51 for the fifth wicket to push reigning champions Jamaica to a five-wicket victory over Leeward Islands in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge yesterday.

Palmer, the Jamaica captain, hit the top score of 45, and Blackwood was not out on 30, as the Jamaicans, chasing 136 for victory, reached their target just before the scheduled close on the third and final day of their third round match at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

The result meant that Jamaica moved into a two-way tie with Windward Islands on 21 points at the top of the table, with the Leewards remaining firmly rooted on the bottom with three points.

The Jamaicans and the Windwards meet at the same venue in the fourth round, starting tomorrow, when the Leewards tackle Trinidad & Tobago at the Gros-Islet Playing Field.

Final hour before tea

Donovan Nelson and John Campbell shared six wickets between them, as the Jamaicans dismissed the Leewards for 225 in their second innings in the final hour before tea.

Campbell ended with three for 54, and Nelson three for 76, after the Leewards resumed from their overnight total of 98 for two, and their batting crumpled.

Hayden Walsh Jr was the stand-out for the Leewards with 66, and their captain Adelvin Phillip made 34.

Jamaica slipped to 76 for four before Palmer and Blackwood came to their rescue with solid batting.

Shane Burton ended with two for 28 from six overs for the Leewards, who lost for the second time in the competition, following a defeat to Guyana in the first round.

AT DENNERY: Barbados drew with Trinidad & Tobago at the Dennery Playing Field.

Scores: Trinidad and Tobago 235 (Nicholas Alexis 80, Kieron Joseph 56; Jomel Warrican 3-63, Roston Chase 2-39) and 175 for two (Nicholas Alexis 99, Keon Joseph 63; Roston Chase 2-35).

Barbados 270 (Clint St Hill 96, Justin Greaves 49, Shai Hope 25, Jomel Warrican 22; Kissoondath Magram 4-71, Yannick Cariah 3-59, Sachin Boodram 3-63).

AT GROS-ISLET: The Windward Islands completed a seven-wicket victory over Guyana about 40 minutes after the scheduled start on the third and final day in the third round of the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge.Scores: Guyana 51 (Andrew Stoll 29; Kaveem Hodge 3-0, Bronte Bess 2-4, Kirk Edwards 2-14, Levaughn Lewis 2-22) and 226 (Ricardo Adams 38, Amir Khan 41 not out, Dominique Ricky 31, Harrinarine Chattergoon 30, Keon Joseph 26; Levaughn Lewis 5-77, Audy Alexander 2-30).

Windward Islands 190 (Dennis Smith 93, Atticus Browne 41; Amir Khan 8-70) and 91 for three (Kaveem Hodge 34 not out, Sunil Ambris 32 not out; Anthony Adams 2-30).