Jamaica Under 19’s recovered from 51 for six after 22 overs to reach 203 all out at the end of 50 overs against ICC Americas on Wednesday in the last round of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional 50 over championship. Canadian spinner Farhan Malik took four of the first six wickets that fell as the Jamaicans struggled in the first phase of the game. A stand of 81 between Thavi Spencer (54) and Nicholas Waters lead the Jamaican recovery. ICC Americas replied with 130 for nine from 50 overs.
Jamaica won the game by 73 runs and added the 2013 WICB Regional U19 50 over championship to the WICB U19 Three-Day Championship that had been staged before the 50-over event began. Both U19 championship events were hosted by the St Kitts Cricket Association. The Jamaica-ICC Americas match was streamed live via the WICB website.
Jamaica won all six games in this WICB Regional 50-over Championship, according to published scores, but were only shown as having won four games in a media release issued on Tuesday, and in the standings currently on the WICB website. However, the points shown for Jamaica would seem to include six lots of six points for a win.
In the other games played on Tuesday, Guyana beat the Leeward Islands by three wickets while the Windward Islands appear to have beaten Barbados. Barbados were 137 for seven after 38 overs and needed to reach 214 to win. The standings suggest the Windwards won this game.
WICB Website report on Jamaica U19 v ICC Americas
Thavi Spencer and Nicholas Walters rescued Jamaica to help their team remain unbeaten and effectively seal the Regional Under-19 title. Jamaica were in all sorts of trouble against the ICC Americas early on in their innings, being reduced to 51/6 in 22 overs.
Spinner, Farhan Malik, had led the destruction for the ICC Americas with figures of 4-18. But Spencer and Walters combined in a sensation stand got the Jamaicans back on track. They put on 81 runs together for the seventh to take the 159/8 in the 44th over.
Spencer made 54 while Walters hit 33. Jamaica had staged a major recovery and had stolen back the momentum from the ICC Americas. They were 203 all out by the end of their allotted 50 overs. Malik finished with 4-24 while Abraash Khan had figures of 2-49. In response, the ICC Americas faltered in their chase, stumbling to 130/9 from their 50 overs.
Walters and Spencer again combined, this time to lead the destruction with the ball. Walters took 4-25 while Spencer had figures of 2-22. Marquino Mindley also had a couple of wickets. Kamau Leverock top scored for the Americas with 33, while Tre Manders scored 22. Jamaica went on to take the title by 73 runs.
(EN with information from the WICB website and scorecards at Cricket Archive)