TT whip Bajans in Regional Under-19s

BASSETERRE: A strong all-round performance from Javeor Royal propelled Jamaica Under-19s to a four-wicket victory over ICC Americas Under-19s in the Regional One-Day Youth Tournament yesterday.

Important half-centuries from Cephas Cooper and Kirstan Kallicharran, as well as Jamie Cornelius also saw Trinidad and Tobago Under-19s and the Leeward Islands Under-19s collected victories in the second round of matches.

Royal hit an unbeaten 66 from 29 balls that included one four and an incredible eight sixes to lead the Jamaicans’ successful chase of 195 for victory against the Americas at St Paul’s.

Jamaica were under a little pressure, when Bhavindu Adhihetty held a return chance to dismiss Dominic Samuels for 42 in the 39th over, but Royal put the result beyond any doubt, scoring 44 of the 54 required in the remaining overs in an unbroken, seventh-wicket stand with Shalome Parnell that carried his side over the finish line.

Earlier, Royal had grabbed an impressive 6-32 from 9.5 overs, defying 75 from Akashdeep Gill and 52 from Arslan Khan, to lead the demolition of the Americas’ batting for 194 in 48.5 overs.

At Conaree, Cooper hit six fours in the top score of an unbeaten 85 from 107 balls and a run-a-ball 74 from Kallicharran led TT to a comfortable victory over arch-rivals Barbados.

The pair shared an unbroken, third-wicket stand of 131 that ushered TT past their target of 209. Earlier, Nyeem Young had led the way with 74, but Aaron Maniram snared 4-18 from nine overs to keep the Barbadian batting in check and help restrict them to 208 for eight from their allocation of 45 overs in the rain-affected contest.

In the other match at Conaree, opener Cornelius hit seven fours and two sixes in 61 from 91 balls to pave the way for the Leewards’ successful chase of 136 against Windward Islands.

He shared an opening stand of 102 with Kadeem Henry before they were dismissed within seven balls of each other, but the rest of the Leewards batting held their nerve against incisive bowling Sealron Williams to limp over the finish line with 12.4 overs remaining.

Williams ended with 5-17 from six overs, but they were not enough runs on the board for him to end the match as the hero. Windwards’ batting had failed to click with West Indies Under-19 captain Emmanuel Stewart dismissed for just one and it took a rearguard of 41 from Darron Nedd to beef up their total, as Mikyle Louis undermined them with 4-22 from 10 overs.

(CMC)