WILDEY, Barbados (CMC):

A SECOND heavy shower that chased the players and umpires from the field almost 2-1/2 hours after the start yesterday extinguished the chances of both Jamaica and Windward Islands of advancing to the final of the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 limited-overs competition.

Both teams needed an outright result in their third round match at the Cable & Wireless Sports Club to top the group that also included hosts Barbados.

But the result means that the Barbadians, who defeated the Windwards in the only completed match of the group on Tuesday, will meet Trinidad & Tobago in the final today.

Chose to field

Jamaica had also suffered when their match against Barbados was rained out, but they won the toss and chose to field in overcast conditions.

They were initially thwarted by an enterprising 54-run opening stand between Wayne Harper and Denis Louis before Jermaine Blackwood coming on as first change broke the partnership. He had Harper bowled and caught for 22 just before the first interruption which lasted 42 minutes.

Blackwood then lured Louis out of his crease for wicketkeeper Marvarick Perry to complete a smart stumping before the same combination accounted for Junior Jervier, caught behind, to leave the Windwards faltering on 72 for three.

When the rain came for the second and final time, Kavem Hodge, not out on 29 and Dalton Polius, not out on seven, had added 33. But umpires Patrick Grazette and Martin Parris conducted an inspection of the rain-soaked ground about two hours before the scheduled close and decided that the conditions were not suitable for a resumption in time to have the match completed.