Jamaica made a rousing start in their quest to win the CLICO West Indies Under-15 cricket championship, when they comprehensively beat the Leeward Islands by nine wickets at Portsmouth Cricket Ground in Dominica, as the tournament got under way yesterday.

St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Donovan Nelson took 5-18 off nine overs to lead the Jamaican charge and help dismiss the Leeward Islands for a paltry 113 runs.

In reply, Tacky High's opening batsman John Campbell hit 48 and Ramone Senior of Excelsior scored an unbeaten 43 to lead Jamaica to 114 for one in 14 overs.

Meanwhile, the Windward Islands and Guyana also registered big wins.

The Windwards scored 120 for four in 42 overs, to beat Trinidad and Tobago, 119 all out, by six wickets. Sunil Ambris, 42, top scored for the Windwards.

Other games

In the day's other game, Barbados first made 181 with opener Kraigg Brathwaite getting 79 against Sharmendra Hardyal (7-24), to beat Guyana, who replied with 115.

Jamaica will hunt its second win at the same venue when they face Trinidad and Tobago in one of three second round matches. The Leeward Islands will face Barbados at Grandbay and Windward Islands take on Guyana at Windsor Park.