Creary

WILDEY, Barbados, CMC

BARBADOS CLINCHED the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge three-day competition for the first time, after avoiding defeat against Jamaica yesterday.

Set 304 to win in a minimum of 64 overs after conceding first innings lead, Barbados earned an honourable draw by batting out the final two sessions to finish on 138 for two when the fifth and final round match at the Cable & Wireless Sports Club was called off with nine overs remaining.

Barbados, pre-series leaders, took three points from the match to finish on 37, three more than 2007 champions Guyana, who played to a draw with Trinidad and Tobago.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and No.4 Roston Chase completed defiant half centuries and added 97 for the third wicket, after Jamaica claimed two wickets in quick succession.

As Barbados monitored the progress of the other match between the two title chasers, they had to battle away to secure a draw.

Creary's second century

Jamaica batted freely in the pre-lunch session to move from their overnight 128 for four before declaring on 233 for five at lunch.

Jamaica captain André Creary completed his second century of the competition, batting fluently for an unbeaten 101 after resuming on 34. The right-hander batted for 187 minutes, faced 128 balls, and struck nine fours.

Creary and Jermaine Blackwood, who was promoted in the order, added 80 for the fifth wicket as Jamaica went in search of quick runs. Blackwood made 30 before giving a catch to long-off to give legspinner Dario Vaughan his third wicket of the innings.

Barbados had an opening stand of 37 before losing opener Rashidi Boucher and Kyle Corbin for the addition of four runs.

Boucher fell for 17 to a fine, diving catch by Courtney Allen at cover off fast bowler Gifton Wray, while Corbin went for a duck after edging a cut from offspinner Jamie Blackwood to the 'keeper.

Brathwaite, the prolific 15-year-old, and Chase ensured there were no further alarms for Barbados by responsibly batting out the remainder of the match.

Chase scored an unbeaten 62 from 142 balls with seven fours and two sixes, while Brathwaite ended 50 not out, having batted for 216 minutes in which he hit three fours off 138 balls.

AT CANE GARDEN, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago played to a draw on the third and final day of their fifth and final round match at the Lester Vaughan School.

Scores: GUYANA 227 (Trevon Griffith 48, Anthony Bramble 41, Dilon Heyliger 36, Eugene La Fleur 30, Seon Hetmeyer 27; Yannick Ottley 3-24, Kjorn Ottley 2-37, Omesh Ramotaur 2-39) and 289 for eight (Seon Hetmeyer 105, Jonathan Foo 48, Royan Fredericks 31, Trevon Griffith 22, Royston Alkins 21 not out; Akiel Cooper 3-47, Omeshwar Ramoutar 3-52).

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 336 for nine declared (Adrian Barath 96, Akeem Mitchell 61 not out, Yannick Ottley 45, Kjorn Ottley 42, Evin Lewis 30, Rixon Maniram 22; Keon Joseph 3-74, Jonathan Foo 2-27, Herman Latcha 2-41).