BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
JAMAICA GOT an unbeaten half-century from Iroy Johnson and defeated hosts Barbados by five wickets to win the first ever West Indies Blind Cricket tournament yesterday.
Playing at the Carlton Sports Club, Jamaica made 196 for five from 27.1 overs in reply to the Barbados total of 192 for seven from their allotted 35 overs.
"It was worked out, it was planned, we just did to Barbados what had to be done to make us champions," winning coach Vivalyn Lattie-Scott told CMC Sport after the game.
Boasting a 100 per cent win record entering the final, Jamaica won the toss and decided to field.
They quickly reduced Barbados to 56 for six, but a seventh-wicket partnership of 99 between Anthony Cummins (44) and Walter Yearwood (20) helped Barbados to a respectable total.
FIVE WICKETS FOR GARDINER
Bowling for Jamaica, Tous-saint Gardiner collected two wickets for 26 runs from seven overs as most of Barbados' wickets fell as a result of fine out-cricket by the Jamaicans.
Making light work of the Barbados score, player of the match Johnson led the way with 54 not out as the Jamaicans won with almost eight overs to spare.
Damian McLean contributed a valuable 30 to the Jamaican total, while Ricardo Manning was the most economical bowler for Barbados with figures of one for 37 from six overs.
The player of the tournament award went to Trinidad and Tobago's batsman Ulric Andrews with a total of 524 runs.
Guyana's Oliver Kerr and Granville Carter, of Barbados, also picked up awards for the B1 category of totally blind players.
Kerr won the B1 batsman award and Carter collected the B1 bowling award.
Jamaica will host the second West Indies Blind Cricket tournament next year.
