KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):
JAMAICA ADVANCED to the semi-finals after struggling to beat the Leeward Islands by two wickets in their TCL Group West Indies Under-19 limited overs first-round match at Arnos Vale yesterday.
Leg-spinner Alton Beckford snared a five-wicket haul to reduce the Leewards to 100 all out in 37 overs, but the Jamaican batting tripped continually before squeezing to victory at 101 for eight off 34.5 overs.
The Jamaicans were made to fight every inch of the way, but in the end they managed a victory that secured for them a spot in today's semi-final against new three-day champions Trinidad and Tobago at Arnos Vale.
UNDERMINED
After the Leewards had decided to bat on a pitch that assisted the bowlers, they were undermined by Beckford, who tore through their fragile middle order.
Beckford logged superb figures of 5-15 off 10 overs.
No batsman came to grips with his clever bowling and only allrounder Orlando Peters, who top scored with 21, and Montcin Hodge (19 not out) showed any real resistance.
With what seemed to be a very modest total, the Leewards gave themselves a chance to win by shaking the Jamaica top order, reducing them to 48 for five at one stage.
But Ziggy Levy, with 28 not out, played courageously, and steered his unsteady team to victory, with help from Cordell Simpson (20).
Opening bowler, Chad Hampson, with 3-35 off 9.5 overs, was the most successful bowler for the Leewards, and Peters picked up two for 12 off eight overs.
While the Jamaicans battle buoyant Trinidad and Tobago at the main Arnos Vale Ground, defending limited overs champions Barbados will meet the Windward Islands at Sion Hill in the other semi-final, and the Leewards face Guyana in the fifth place play-off at Arnos Vale II.
At SION HILL, the Windward Islands used a strong allround bowling effort to defeat Guyana by eight wickets in their semi-final.
WINDWARDS WIN
Sent to bat, the Guyanese plunged to 80 all out off 38 overs, and the Windwards cruised to victory at 83 for two off 31.1 overs with top scorer Lauron Francois (36) and André Fletcher (12) finishing the job as the unbeaten batsmen.
SCORES: GUYANA 80 all out off 38 overs (Gajanand Singh 30; Haniff Alexander 3-25, Nelon Pascal 2-6, Earven Fredericks 2-11, Gary Daniel 2-18). WINDWARDS 83-2 off 31.1 overs (Lauron Francois 36 not out).
SCOREBOARD
Leeward Islands innings
J. Liburd c McCarthy b Sitcheron 1
K. Powell c Ebanks b Gopie 15
A. Powell lbw Beckford 12
O. Peters b Beckford 21
J. Athanaze b Beckford 0
D. Skellekie c Bulli b Beckford 1
A. Willett b Beckford 6
M. Hodge not out 19
J. Taylor b Levy 0
J. Hodge run out 1
C. Hampson b Bulli 2
Extras: (b3, lb6, w12, nb1) 22
TOTAL: (all out - 37 overs) 100
Fall: 1-18, 2-22, 3-60, 4-60, 5-61, 6-65, 7-80, 8-85, 9-88
Bowling: Sitcheron 6-1-14-1 (1nb); Brooks 3-0-24-0 (3w); Gopie 6-0-17-1; Beckford 10-2-15-5 (3w); Levy 10-0-18-1 (1w); Bulli 2-0-3-1.
Jamaica innings
D. Ebanks lbw Hampson 17
Z. Fowler c Powell b Peters 4
A. McCarthy lbw Skellekie 16
J. Trenchfield lbw Peters 0
A. Gopie lbw Athanaze 2
Z. Levy not out 28
C. Simpson b Taylor 20
R. Sitcheron b Hampson 0
A. Beckford c Skellekie b Hampson 0
D. Bulli not out 0
Extras: (lb5, w7, nb2) 14
TOTAL: (for eight wkts - 34.5 overs) 101
Fall: 1-21, 2-23, 3-25, 4-33, 5-48,
6-90, 7-93, 8-93,
Bowling: Hampson 9.5-1-35-3 (3w); J Hodge 2-0-8-0 (1w); Peters 8-2-12-2; M Hodge 1-0-7-0 (1nb); Athanaze 7-1-13-1 (1w, 1nb); Skellekie 2-0-9-1; Willett 1-0-3-0 (1w); Taylor 3.5-1-9-1 (1w).
Result: Jamaica won by two wickets.
