Barbados lifted the Regional Under-17 title yesterday as two of the three final round matches were abandoned due to rain.
The battle for the championship went down to the last day with Jamaica and Barbados meeting with the silverware on the line. However, it was an anti-climactic end as only nine overs were bowled before the rains came down.
At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, however, T&T was involved in a dramatic tie with the Windward Islands.
After batting first, the hosts were in deep trouble at 93 for five early in the innings. Only Aaron Bankay led any sort of resistance for the T&T boys, scoring an unbeaten 41.
However, the rain brought a long pause to proceedings after 29.5 overs. The umpires were then forced to call time on the T&T innings and get the Duckworth/Lewis system involved.
It meant the Windward Islands had to chase a revised target of 116 runs in 28 overs. It was an exciting match all the way through, as T&T pulled back the visitors’ charge to victory by taking wickets at the top. But Teddy Bishop and Divonne Joseph put in solid knocks to keep the Windwards on course. Bishop hit 48 runs from 68 balls, which included five boundaries and a six, while Joseph struck 33. The latter stroked four boundaries during his 82-minute stay at the crease.
However, after it went down to the last over, neither team could be separated with the Windwards ending on 115 for five.
At Gilbert Park, Jamaica won the toss and elected to field first in overcast conditions.
They got the Bajan skipper Nimar Bolden for four runs with 12 on the board. However, a short while later the heavens opened up and no play would be possible for the rest of the day. Barbados were 29 for one when the match was abandoned. Hakeem Perryman was unbeaten on 17 while Jaden Leacock was not out on four.
The rain-hit victory meant Barbados successfully defended the title they won last year.
There were similar scenes at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, where Guyana were facing the Leeward Islands. Batting first, the Leewards reached 26 for one after 7.1 overs before rain affected that match too.
Summarise Scores
(At Gilbert Park)
Barbados 29-1 (9) (H.Perryman 17*, O.Ennis 1-10) v Jamaica
Result: Match abandoned
(At NCC)
Leeward Islands 26-1 (7.1) v Guyana.
Result: Match abandoned
(At BLCA)
T&T 93-5 (29.5) (A.Bankay 41*) v WINDWARDS 115-5 (DL 28) (T.Bishop 48, D.Joseph 33, M.Gittens 1-28, S.Sankar 1-26, A.Mahase 1-1)
Result: Match tied