Advertisement 87
Advertisement 211
Kimani Melius punches through the off-side for another boundary. (Photo: Robertson S. Henry)
Kimani Melius punches through the off-side for another boundary. (Photo: Robertson S. Henry)
Advertisement 219

 A 5-wicket haul, two half-centuries, plus aggressive fielding were the highlights of a Windward Islands 69-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Thursday at the Park Hill Playing Field, as the 2019 West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 cricket tournament continued. 

Having won the toss, the Windward Islands decided to take first knock, with one change to the 11 who defeated the Leeward Islands: Jaheil Walters came in for Camarlo Cain. 

The Windwards’ opening pair of Melius and Walters weathered the opening storm from the Trinidad bowlers, losing their first wicket, that of Jaheil Walters, on 45. 

Wickets fell at 45, 79, 86, 142, 166, 168, 172. The final score was 203 for 7 off 50 overs. Kimani Melius hammered 59 with 10 fours and 2 sixes, Teddy Bishop 53 with 3 fours and 2 sixes, Tahj Tavanier 26, and Tijorn Pope 19 not out, the main contributors.   

Avinash Mahabirsingh took 2 for 12, Nicholas Ali 2 for 26, Jayden Seales 1 for 48, and Damion Joachim 1 for 35, with 13 extras bowled in the Windwards’ innings. 

Advertisement 21

When the Trinidadians began their reply, the Windward Islands bowlers, who bowled disciplined line and length, despite the loss of Jamie Buddy, applied pressure. 

Buddy has been forced to leave the field because of a back problem. He did not return to the action after having bowled 1.5 overs for 04 runs. Walters completing the over. 

It was testimony to the discipline of the Windwards’ bowling unit after Buddy’s loss, which soon saw them amongst the Trinidadian wickets.

Lincoln Durand finished with figures of 10-4-19-1, delivered in two spells of sustained fast bowling. All-rounder Tijorn Pope continued his outstanding all-round performance with 3 for 27 in 9.4 overs, dismissing both openers to catches by Ackeem Auguste.

But then came the off-spinner Malakai Xavier’s show, with figures of 10-2-26-5, which tore the heart out of the Trinidad middle order, including the prized scalp of skipper Leonardo Julien. 

Trinidad and Tobago lost wickets at 39, 50, 51, 65, 74, 78, 111, 117; 117, all out 134; with 11 extras bowled. 

Batting for Trinidad and Tobago, Ronaldo Forester remained 22 not out, Rivaldo Ramlogan chipped in with 22, Leonardo Francis 20, and Damion Joachim 11, the leading scorers for the Trinis, as they lost by 96 runs to the Windward Islands in an afternoon of pulsating cricket.

The Windward Islands next match is today, Sunday, at Park Hill Playing Field against Barbados.