Windward Islands are 2022 regional Under-17 cricket champions

The Windward Islands have emerged 2022 Cricket West Indies Under-17 Super50 champions, with a total of 17.8 points accumulated from the five matches played, with three victories, one loss, and one no-result.

Barbados, champions of the previous two tournaments in 2018 and 2019, finished second on 14.8 points, third were Jamaica with 14.2 points, hosts Trinidad and Tobago finished fourth with 12 points, fifth were Guyana with 11.6 points, and the Leeward Islands sixth with 8.8 points.

Leading the Windward Islands victory charge in the bowling department were two Vincentians, fast bowler Solomon Bascombe and off-spinner Luke Wilson.

In their final 50-over match, the Windward Islands beat Barbados by 134 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method, in Round 3 of the 2022 Cricket West Indies (CWI)Rising Stars Under-17 Regional Super50 Tournament at Gilbert Park on Tuesday, July 26.

In the match, reduced to a 41-over affair following an early interruption for rain, Windward Islands scored 207 for seven off their 41 allotted overs. Divonie Joseph top-scored for the Windward Islands with 76 off 101 balls, which included 4 fours and a six; skipper Stephan Pascal made 44 with 5 fours and 1 six; Tarrique Edward 32, while Mahid Lambert and Reshawn Lewis each scored 13. Bowling for Barbados, Jaden Lorde took 3 for 46, and Jatario Prescod, 2 for 35.

Set a revised target of 212, also off 41 overs, Barbados were bundled out for 77 in 21.1 overs. Akeem McCollin top-scored for the Barbadians with 33, while doing the destruction with the ball was Solomon Bascombe, who took 4 for 13, and Luke Wilson, 3 for 17.

On Wednesday, July 27, the final day of competition, the Windward Islands moved to pole position in the Championship table, after securing a 28-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago at the National Cricket Centre in Couva.

Sent in to bat, Windward Islands skipper and opening batsman Stephan Pascal made a quick-fire 78 off 48 balls, which included four sixes and six fours, and with Tarrique Edwards’ unbeaten 72 off 37 balls which includes seven sixes and two fours, propelled the Windward Islands to 191 for 4 in 20 overs. Bowling for Trinidad and Tobago, Rikki Ragonanan took 2 for 31, while Abdullah Cambridge, with 1 for 27, and Fareez Ali 1 for 29 gave good support.

Trinidad and Tobago, in reply, were restricted to 163 for 8, as Kyle Ramdoo, who made 56, and Andrew Rambarran with 55, gave the hosts hopes of victory. Ramdoo made his 56 in 45 balls, with one six and two fours, while Rambarran scored 55 off 32 balls, which included three sixes and six fours.

Windward Islands skipper Stephan Pascal enjoyed a good all-round performance, picking up 2 for 9 with the ball, while Wilson (2 for 20, and Bascombe (2 for 33) were again amongst the wickets.

That fourth-round victory for the Windward Islands saw them become the only participating team in the 2022 tournament to win three of four matches, with the fourth and fifth round matches changed to 20-over affairs due to the inclement weather.