16-year-old sends signal to selectors

West Indies cricket selectors were given a gentle reminder that there is an emerging talent in the region.

Sixteen-year-old Trinidadian opening batsman Adrian Bahrat stroked 131 in the second innings of the third round match in the Carib Beer Series against the Leewards at the National Cricket Center at Couva.{{more}}

The diminutive right hander’s century helped his team to declare at 305 for 3.This followed his 42 in the first innings.

In the process he wrote his name in history becoming the youngest player at 16 years 8 months to score a century at the regional first class level dating back to 1966.

Bahrat then 15 was inexplicably left out of the West Indies squad for the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka last year.

Trinidad and Tobago’s second innings total also had good contributions from Darren Ganga 58 and Gibron Mohammed 55.

Bahrat has already caught the eye of batting maestro Brian Lara, who sees him as the brightest prospect in the Caribbean.

Bahrat’s ton followed another teenager Keiron Pollard efforts who slammed 117 as the home team rattled up 313 in the first innings. The strongly built Pollard has been included in the West Indies provisional team for the 2007 World Cup here in the Caribbean in March and April. It was his second century in his debut season. He crashed 126 against Barbados in the first round of matches.

The teenaged duo’s feats set up Trinidad and Tobago’s emphatic 216 run win over the Leewards.

The Leewards, led by 111 by captain Sylvester Joseph, posted 216. Amit Jaggernauth bagged 4 for 61 and Dave Mohammed 3 for 72.

Jaggernauth was the lead bowler with 5 for 48 as the Leewards unsuccessfully chased 403 were bowled out for 187.

While the reigning double crown champions got their first full points, the struggling Windwards suffered an outright defeat to Barbados

Rawl Lewis with 5 for 36, Denis George and Kenroy Peters both with figures of 2 for 20, restricted Barbados to 171 all out in the rain affected match at St. Benjamin’s Park in Dominica. Ryan Hinds topscored with 40.

But the Windwards batting crumbled under the left hand pace of Pedro Collins whose 6 for 24 saw the home team ending at 122. Wicket Keeper Lynden James, a late replacement for the dropped Junior Murray made 42 not out.

Barbados in their second innings 182 for 9 declared with Peters the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 44. Set 232 for victory, the Windwards in the usual display of poor batting were shot out for 91, as Ryan Austin spun his way to 4 for 26.

In the other fixture Jamaica took maximum points over Guyana at Kensington in Jamaica.

The visitors made 205 in their first innings. Narsighn Deonarine hit 69. In reply the home team made 375 with Tamar Lambert scoring 110, Wavelll Hinds 69 and Carlton Baugh 43. Esaun Crandon had figures of 5 for 64 for Guyana, who at their second knock totalled 232 as Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 61. Jermaine Lawson destroyed the Guyanese innings with 7 for 85.

Needing 62 to win, Jamaica reached 64 for 3.

Barbados stretched their lead at the top to 30 points going into the fourth round. Jamaica are in second with 21 points and Trinidad and Tobago third on 20. The Leewards are fourth with 9, Guyana fifth with 8 and the Windwards remain at the bottom with 7 points.