Under-19 coach hails Barbados' quality

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Barbados coach Dexter Toppin has praised his side's character after they rebounded from the disappointment in the three-day tournament to convincingly win the one-day title at the WICB Regional Under-19 Championship.

The Barbadians trounced their nearest challengers Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) by nine wickets in their final-round match on Monday, to register their fifth straight win and finish on top of the standings with 26.8 points.

"This is a richly deserved victory for these young men. We are a very happy team today," Toppin said Monday.

"To come here and win all five matches, all in convincing fashion, shows the strength of the team and depth in the team.

"We were a bit disappointed when we lost to Jamaica in the three-day tournament, and you could say that match cost us the title, but we regrouped and stuck to our plans in the one-dayers and we came out victorious."

On a flat pitch at the Demerara Cricket Club, Barbados restricted T&T to 193 off 48.4 overs and then marched to their target off 42.4 overs, with captain and Test batsman Kraigg Brathwaite hitting an unbeaten 76.

Confidence

Brathwaite was outstanding in the one-day phase of the tournament, scoring 297 runs in five innings at an average of 99, including three half-centuries.

"We deserve to take something home with us. The lads played with great confidence and we were we led by Kraigg at the top," Toppin said.

"He led from the front and once he is batting well the team always does well. He stood out in the one-day tournament. Justin (Greaves) bowled really well and did all that was asked of him.

"He came into (the) match with a shoulder injury but was still able to give us a big effort and stood up for Barbados."

Greaves snared five for 37 to finish with eight wickets in the tournament.