All-rounder Sachin Seecharan had a good performance yesterday for the national under-15 team, but the Jamaicans fought back to leave the match hanging in the balance in their final round clash of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional u-15 tournament in Jamaica.
Bowling first at the Manchester High School Ground, Seecharan took 3/8 with his meidum pace as Jamaica were bowled out for 75 in their first innings. Seecharan was supported by skipper Kirstan Kallicharan and fast bowler Joel Sutherland, who grabbed 3/12 and 2/7 respectively. Ian Spence showed some fight for the hosts, scoring an unbeaten 19.
In reply, the top order for T&T failed as they were reduced to 43/4 with the dangerous Kallicharan and vice captain Saiba Batoosingh already back in the pavilion. Kallicharan, who scored 63 to win the match for T&T in the last round against Guyana, was dismissed for one, while Batoosingh who scored 70 against the Leeward Islands, could only muster seven. When T&T were further reduced to 68/7, it looked like T&T would concede first innings points. However, Seecharan made a valiant 28 as T&T limped to 107/9 off 38 overs, with a lead of 32 runs.
In their second turn at the crease, Jamaica quickly erased the lead as they raced to 49/0 off 12 overs. Rajhni Roye was on 25, while Richard McIntosh was giving good support on 17. Kallicharan and Emilo Gopaul snatched one wicket apiece to leave Jamaica on 58/2, with a small lead of 26 runs. Unfortunately for T&T, an unbroken third wicket partnership of 27 from Jamaica meant they closed on 85/2 with a lead of 53 runs.
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SCORES
At Manchester High School: Jamaica 75 (Ian Spence 19 n.o., Sachin Seecharan 3/8, Kirstan Kallicharan 3/12, Joel Sutherland 2/7) and 85/2 vs T&T 107/9 (38 overs) (Seecharan 28, Aaron Mairam 20, Spence 5/25)
At Treasure Beach: Leeward Islands 80 and 38/5 vs Windward Islands 171
At Manley Horne: Barbados 100 and 83/7 vs Guyana 148/7