Barnes’ 105* moves Jamaica up
SCARBOROUGH, Tobago – Brad Barnes became the first batsman to gather a hundred and piloted Jamaica to a six-wicket victory over Leeward Islands, reviving their title hopes in the Regional Under-17 Tournament on Monday here.
Barnes smote eight fours and one six in an undefeated 105 from 106 balls that anchored the Jamaicans’ batting, as they successfully chased 256 for victory in their rescheduled first round match at Shaw Park.
Batting at three, Barnes came to crease with Jamaica 42 for one in the 13th over and shared three significant partnerships that put his side firmly on track for victory – he put on 77 for second wicket with Jordan Hill, another 46 for the third wicket with his captain Michael Frew and a further 65 for the fourth wicket with Javelle Glenn.
Hill supported with 66 from 86 balls, Glenn made 27 and Frew got 23, as Jamaica reached the finish line with 10 balls remaining in the contest which had to be rescheduled after the two sides encountered logistical problems at the start of the tournament.
The result moved Jamaica into second place with 18.5 points, 0.7 behind top-placed Windwards Islands on 19.2 and leapfrogged Barbados and Guyana – both on 13.4 points – with Trinidad & Tobago fifth on six and Leewards at the bottom with 1.5.
In the final round on Tuesday, Jamaica face Barbados at this venue, Guyana meet Windwards at Mount Pleasant and hosts Trinidad & Tobago play Leewards at Bon Accord.
Kofi James had led the Leewards’ strongest batting performances for the Tournament with a run-a-ball, unbeaten 79 that included eight fours and a pair of sixes, anchoring his side to 255 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs after they chose to bat.
A few other batsmen got starts, but none of them carried on – Dmitri Adams made 35, opener Ross Powell, the Leewards captain, added 29, and Michael Lewis got 28.
Powell and Lewis got them off to a solid start, putting on 66 for the first wicket before they were both removed in the space of three deliveries in the 13th over, bowled by Orane Pearson.
Cameron Pennyfeather came to the crease and got things moving again with a stand of 51 with Adams before he was dismissed in the 24th over, bowled by Glenn.
This triggered a period of instability in the Leewards’ batting that saw them lose four wickets for 65 runs in the same number of deliveries before Kofi James with eight fours and two sixes in a run-a-ball, unbeaten 79 not out and Karima Gore gave the innings a flourishing close, putting on 73 for inside the last 11 overs.
Frew and Pearson collected two wickets apiece.
STANDINGS
(After the fourth round)
1. Windwards 19.2 points
2. Jamaica 18.5
3. Barbados 13.4
4. Guyana 13.4
5. Trinidad & Tobago 6
6. Leeward Islands 1.5
Final round of matches: Tuesday, July 15 – Jamaica vs Barbados at Shaw Park, Guyana vs Windwards at Mount Pleasant, T&T vs Leewards at Bon Accord