Latest update February 22nd, 2025 12:22 PM
Latest News
- $277.9M Mabaruma Magistrates’ Court commissioned at Mabaruma
- Min. Indar scolds contractors over unsanctioned works days after VP Jagdeo called out ministry’s shoddy management of construction sites
- White House expects Ukraine to sign critical minerals deal soon
- Simplify cash grant distribution processes
- Peacemaker chopped after intervening in argument
Regional U-19 50 over tourney…Drakes guides Barbados to narrow victory over Windwards
A fine spell of fast bowling by Sherman Lewis was overshadowed by an unbeaten 45 from Joshua Drakes who guided Barbados to a two-wicket victory over Windward Islands in the second round of the Regional U-19 50-over tournament yesterday.
Joshua Drakes hits through the off side.
The Windward Islands never recovered after a terrible start and were sent packing for 111 in 39.5 overs at Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in yet another low scoring affair in the competition thus far. Most of the batsmen seemed to lack application, a fact that came to light once again when Barbados struggled to overhaul their target, which they did for the loss of eight wickets after facing 41.1 overs.
With the exception of ICC Americas, the other teams played three rounds of three day games; the batsmen should have posted much larger totals for their bowlers to defend since they would have already acclimatized. Their lack of adequate footwork, poor running between the wickets and concentration lapses have led to their downfall at crucial times; not taking away any credit from the bowlers who have managed to operate with variation and control.
Barbados decision to insert their opponents proved precise with only Ronaldo Cato (23), Tonis Simon (19), Kershaskie Lewis (14) and Anson Latchman (12) managing double figures. Tarik Shorey made early inroads by trapping Gidron Pope (00) LBW in the very first over with only a solitary run on the board which was followed by the run out of Melvin Gordon (05). Simon and Lewis tried to repair the early damage with a third wicket stand of 19, but Matthew Jones ended their resistance by uprooting the stumps of Lewis.
Simon was joined by Cato and the pair added a further 38, but just as they seemed to bat their team out of trouble, Simon was removed by Chad Williams. Neil Persaud accounted for Cato and Latchman in quick succession to leave Windwards tottering at 83-6. It was all downhill from this point; Matthew Jones and Williams picked up two wickets for 18 runs each, while Persaud claimed 2-35.
Lewis gave his team hope with the wickets of Lee-Germon Gaskin (00) and Akil Greenidge (00) in the first over before Ryan John sent back Nicholas Kirton (00), reducing the Bajans to 3-1. Drakes probably stood between victory and Windward Islands, he played a captain’s knock carefully rotating the strike. Lewis kept his team’s hopes alive with the wicket of Jafari Toppin, (01) before Drakes added 52 for the fifth wicket with Shamar Springer (14) before Springer was bowled by Pope.
Sherman Lewis in action.
Barbados then lost Jones (04) and Alex Ferguson (06), but despite their demise Drakes wasn’t afraid to play his shots. He hit John for two consecutive fours either side of the pitch before punching Deron Hypolite for another with five runs required. The right hander then gathered a single off the said bowler to see his team to safety. Shorey was not out on five. John, Pope and Hypolite had one wicket each. Barbados collected 6.1 and Windwards 0.5 points.
Meanwhile, the match scheduled for the Wales ground on the West of Demerara, rain forced an abandonment in the contest featuring Jamaica and the Leeward Islands without a ball being bowled. They will both hope for better fortunes when they go into action again tomorrow after a rest day today.
Matches scheduled for tomorrow will see host Guyana facing Trinidad at Bourda, Leewards battle the Windwards at Enmore and Jamaica tackle ICC Americas at Everest. Barbados drew the bye to the next round. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The clock and the cloud
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Time, as the ancients knew, is a trickster. It slips through the fingers of kings and commoners... more
CARICOM Nations Should Respond Together To new U.S. Policies
By Sir Ronald Sanders Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News-Two Executive Orders issued by U.S.... more
Weekend Cartoon
