ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):JAMAICA, POWERED by a huge unbeaten half-century from captain Andre Creary, carved out a five-wicket victory over Barbados and stretched their winning streak to three games in the CLICO West Indies Under-15 cricket tournament on Friday.
Aiming for their third championship title in the regional junior competition, the Jamaicans got 92 not out from Creary and surpassed the target set by the Barbadians, joining the Windward Islands and defending champions Trinidad and Tobago in winners' row in the third round matches.
Barbados, electing to bat at the All Saints Ground, gathered 215 all out in 49.4 overs and Jamaica responded with 218 for five off 48.5 overs.
Anthony Alleyne stroked 59, while Renaldo Layne (40) and Dario Cummings (33) got useful scores for the Barbadians.
Medium pacer Courtney Allen, with five for 33, and off-spinner Rajiv Service (3-35) were the chief wicket-takers for Jamaica, who snatched victory after a tense run-chase with six balls to spare.
Creary shouldered the responsibility admirably and was eight short of a century when the Jamaicans achieved victory. Creary struck 10 boundaries in his innings.
McKoy Ewart (29) was the next highest scorer for Jamaica, while Jamal Phillips (2-37) and Damion Husbands (2-26) led the Barbados bowling.
JA TACKLE GUYANA SATURDAY
Jamaica, tournament champions in 1996 and 2003, will tackle Guyana in the fourth round on Saturday.
The Guyanese, who had opened their campaign with a win over Barbados on Tuesday, slumped to their second consecutive loss when Trinidad and Tobago beat them by one wicket off the last ball of their game at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG).
Electing to bat, Guyana posted 182 all out off 49.5 overs with Jeetendra Sookdeo (36) and Manoj Pooranauth (28) getting most runs against T&T captain Yannick Cariah (3-35), Shahid Mohammed (2-27), Javed Boodram (2-27).
In a gripping chase for victory, the four-time champions needed seven runs from the last over and three runs off the last ball, and squeezed victory off the final delivery to rebound from Wednesday's loss to Jamaica.
Aaron Alfred hit 56 not out to lead the way for T&T, with vital support from Akeel Cooper (37). Medium-pacer Seon Hetmeiyer was Guyana's leading bowler with four for 38.
