SCARBOROUGH, Tobago — Windward Islands held their nerve on a final day filled with drama and rain and were crowned the new Regional Under-17 champions Tuesday here.
Their batting, led by Allick Athanaze, set things up and their bowlers formalised a crushing, 207-run victory over Leeward Islands in their final round match at Canaan.
The Windwards topped the standings with 24.9 points and claimed the title for the first time, after Jamaica and hosts Trinidad and Tobago — the two teams ahead of them entering the final set of matches — failed to dip over the finish line on the last day of the tournament which was affected by rain.
Jamaica, the pre-series leaders, suffered a shocking 10-wicket defeat against last year’s champions Barbados in a low-scoring affair at Shaw Park, at the same time that Guyana overcame impressive bowling from T&T captain
Kirstan Kallicharran and upset the home team by seven runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, after bad light stopped play at Mount Pleasant.
Trinidad and Tobago finished the tournament second with 19.4 points, the same number as the third-placed Jamaicans — but the home team had a superior net run rate so ended in the higher position.
Guyana were fourth with 18.2 points, Barbados was fifth on 13.4 and Leewards ended last on 1.2.
Scores at a glance:
At Canaan: Windward Islands won by 207 runs.WINDWARD ISLANDS 264 for nine off 50 overs (Allick Athanaze 85, Nick Elibox 43, Kimani Melius 34, Daniel Dupigny 28 not out, Emmanuel Stewart 21; Tasillo Allen 3-49, Keshawn Richardson 2-29, Zawandi Whyte 2-48).
LEEWARD ISLANDS 57 off 24.1 overs (Jemuel Cabey 27; Shane Roberts 4-12, Daniel Dupigny 2-14, Tahj Tavarnier 2-14).
At Mount Pleasant: Guyana won by 7 runs (Duckworth/Lewis Method)
GUYANA 166 off 48.1 overs (Raymond Perez 41, Rolando Alimohamed 30 not out, Adrian Sukhwa 22, Ramnarine Chatura 21; Kirstan Kallicharran 10-2-18-5, Sachin Seecharan 2-24, Nathaniel McDavid 2-26).
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 133 for seven off 42.1 overs (Siba Batoosingh 29, Keagan Simmons 28, Cephas Cooper 26, Kirstan Kallicharran 25; Bhaskar Yadram 3-23, Kevin Sinclair 2-16).
At Shaw Park: Barbados won by 10 wickets.
JAMAICA 93 off 29.4 overs (Javeur Royal 28; Jarion Hoyte 4-17, Joshua Bishop 3-22). BARBADOS 95 without loss off 18.5 overs (Shakib Kellman 60 not out, Shian Brathwaite 31 not out)
Congrats to the Windwards under 17 cricket team. Now its over to the under 15 and 19 boys to follow in their foot steps