Barbados whip Leewards in two days to revive campaign

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Barbados exacted the frustration of their opening round loss on Leeward Islands here Saturday, beating them by seven wickets inside two days to revive their Regional Under-19 Championship campaign.
Starting the day at Molineaux on 91 for two in their first innings, still 39 runs behind the Leewards’ 130, Barbados were dismissed for 183 to take a slim lead of 53 runs.
However, they quickly bundled out the Leewards for a paltry 65 in their second innings before knocking off the 13 runs required for victory to take the points from the second round encounter.
The victory atoned for the heart-breaking loss in the first round earlier in the week when they were beaten by Jamaica in a close encounter.
They suffered an early disappointment when Marc Cyrus failed to add to his overnight 39 but Kilano Brathwaite struck 27 and Shem Watson, 26, in a 44-run fifth wicket stand to ensure Barbados eked out a crucial lead.
Jerome Thomas ended with four for 24 while Kian Pemberton claimed two for 28.
In their second turn at the crease, the Leewards suffered a terrible collapse as off-spinner Dane Niles ripped through the innings with five for 16 while left-arm spinner Camarie Boyce supported with two for 12 to complete a 10-wicket match haul.
Only Dimitri Adams with 20 showed any resistance as only one other batsman – Zawandi White with 18 – reached double figures, the entire innings lasting just under two hours.
Some of the shine was taken off Barbados’ win, however, as they lost three wickets in reaching their target as Pemberton snapped up two cheap wickets.