Barbados Under-19’s beat ICC Americas by six wickets on Sunday (August 18) in the West Indies Cricket Board Under-19 Championship. Lee Gaskin top-scored and Johnathan Drakes notched 28 out as Barbados reached a winning 105 for four wickets in 42 overs. ICC Americas managed to clear the 100 mark with a six from Canada’s Farhan Malik over deep midwicket before the last wicket fell on 104 after 36.4 overs. Malik took two wickets for 15 runs when Barbados batted.

Pace bowler Akeem Jordan took two early wickets as the Americas slipped from 14-0 to 16-3. Opener Shakeel Ahmad made 30 and Steve Taylor 22 in the Americas innings. Jameel Stuart took four for 25 for Barbados. Jordan ended with two for 28 and Neil Persaud picked up two wickets for 19.
Jamaica U19’s appear to have to sealed the WICB Under-19 50-over Championship with a four wicket win against the Leeward Islands. The Leewards were bowled out for 142 after 49.4 overs, then had Jamaica struggling at 9 for three wickets after nine overs. But Tristan Coleman made 53 and Ramaal Lewis was 21 not out when Jamaica reached a winning 143 for six in 37 overs.
It was not a good day for Trinidad and Tobago Under-19’s as Tarrych Gabriel (60) and Keone George (47) drove the Windward Islands to a seven wicket win. T & T stumbled to 129 all out after 42.4 overs. The Gabriel-George axis carried the Windwards to the verge of victory, which came after 35 overs as the Windwards reached 130 for three.
Closing round matches on Tuesday
The last round of matches in this tournament are due on Tuesday (August 20) when Jamaica (31 points) are due to meet ICC Americas (9.2 points), the Windward Islands (22.2 points) face Barbados (13.5 points), and Guyana (12.8 points) play the Leeward Islands (1.2 points).
Six points are awarded for a win and three for a tie in this championship. A win (6 points) plus bonus points could edge Trinidad and Tobago (24.9 points) ahead of Jamaica, if the Jamaicans flopped against the Americas. But Trinidad and Tobago has completed six matches with four wins and two defeats, so will not be in action in Tuesday’s closing round of play.
The Windward Islands could only reach 28.2 points with a last round victory, and there do not seem to be enough bonus points available for them to overtake Jamaica. So it would seem Jamaica has won the 2013 WICB Under-19 50 overs Championship.

Eddie Norfolk (based on WICB, Barbados CA and St Kitts CA news and some of the internet streaming of ICC Americas v Barbados.)