WICB Regional Under-19 Championship - Jamaica, Guyana hit by first-day washout

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):Torrential mid-morning rain ravaged the opening day of the second-round match in the WICB Regional Under-19 Championship between Guyana and Jamaica, ruling out play without a ball bowled yesterday.

The heavy rains put the ground at Bourda under water and umpires called play off in the afternoon session with the adverse weather continuing to affect the area.

Bourda, a former Test venue, possesses poor drainage, and with more rain in the forecast, prospects for play today remain dim.

The washout will be a huge disappointment for both Jamaica and Guyana, who both won their first round matches last week.

"We did well in the opening game and to have to sit down all day and have no cricket is a setback, since the reason we are here is to play cricket," Jamaica's coach Robert Samuels said.

"Rain is a natural occurrence and we can't fight Mother Nature, but it is a big disappointment, especially since in Guyana when one day is washed out it could become two and even three.

"We were looking to build on our first-round performance but now we have to hope for the best for tomorrow."

Guyana captain Ronsford Beaton said he was also disappointed since both teams came into the second round with 12 points following their first-round successes.

disappointed

"We are disappointed since we did well in the first round and were are on a high," Beaton said.

"Now with a whole day gone we have to hope for some cricket and try and get at least first-innings points."

Guyana beat the Leeward Islands by an innings and 25 runs while and Jamaica whipped Trinidad and Tobago by 10 wickets in the first round that finished Wednesday.

They are joint leaders along with Barbados in the points table.

There was also no play in the Barbados versus Leeward Islands match at Demerara Cricket Club.

An early downpour followed by two more throughout the morning session left the ground under water, forcing umpires Colin Albert and Guyanand Sookdeo to call off play at 12:40 p.m. without a ball being bowled.

AT GUYANA NATIONAL STADIUM: Trinidad and Tobago, winning the toss and batting against Windward Islands, reached 219 for six at the close on a rain-hit opening day.

Scores: Trinidad and Tobago 219 for six (Akeal Hosein 68, Kieron Joseph 38, Derone Davis 29, Isiah Rajah 21; Ray Jordan 4-39).