By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterJAMAICA ADVANCED to the semi-finals of the TCL Group West Undies Under-19 Youth league championship, despite conceding first innings points to the Windward Islands in their drawn Zone A game, which ended at Kensington Park yesterday.
The result meant Jamaica finished with four points, thus pushing their tally to 28 points. Barbados, who started the round in second position on 20 points, won outright against Rest of Americas for maximum 16 points, which pushed them to the top of the group on 36 points.
As runners-up in Zone A, Jamaica will now face Zone B winners and defending champions, Trinidad & Tobago, in one semi-final at Port Esquivel, while Zone A winners Barbados play Guyana at Melbourne Oval. The semi-finals are set to start tomorrow morning at 10:00.
Asked if he would have preferred winning the group and playing Guyana in the semis Jamaica's coach, Junior Bennett, said:
"If you want to be champions you just have to beat the top teams in the competition. Whosoever we get, we just have to go out there and play some good cricket."
On yesterday's final day of their match that was shortened by to a two-day affair because of rains from 'Charley', Jamaica, replying to Windward Islands 195, were dismissed for 182.
GAME CALLED OFF
In their second knock, Windward Islands were 74 for five when the game was called off about 4:30 p.m.
Starting the day on 95 for three, captain Jamie Trenchfield and Wayne Morgan carried the score to 124 before both fell within 14 runs. They were dismissed by Ron Edwards, Trenchfield, 28, went caught while Morgan, 21, hit straight back at the bowler, who made no mistake.
As it relates to the middle order, it was the same old same old as only Albert Gopie, 22 not out, and Craigan Malcolm, 13, reached double figures against Javon Samuel (4-70) and Asa Edwards (4-45).
"The middle just have to start batting. There is no way you can play in a tournament and none of your batsmen (middle order) stand up and be counted," Bennett said. "None of our middle order batsmen have scored a half century, it is a worry to us right now. We just have to get somebody in that middle to start batting."
When Windward Islands batted a second time, Craig Emmanuel, 16, Russell Emmanuel, 15, Ronald Ettienne, 12, and Mervin Matthew, 19, got to double figures before giving away their wickets to attacking shots.
Malcolm, who picked up the first two wickets, finished with 2-27 while Dennis Bulli supported with 2-3. Alton Beckford got 1-14.
Windward Islands' coach, Irvin Warrican, said:
"It's pleasing to get first innings points from Jamaica.
"All along we knew our team was as good as any other team, but we weren't playing as a unit. If it wasn't for the rain against Rest of Americas and the weather in this game, I think we would have made it to the semi-finals."
