Akeem Dewar with the man-of-the-match award he earned in his first match of the Under-19 tournament. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

After being left out of Jamaica's Under-19 squad last season and out of the team's starting eleven for their first match of the 2009 three-day TCL Group WICB Cup Kingston College's all-rounder Akeem Dewar, has made quite an impression in the two matches he has played.

Given his first cap a mere week ago in Jamaica's second round rubber against Guyana at Sabina Park, Dewar, in two innings has amassed an undefeated 180 runs and has taken match hauls of 4-67 and 7-94 with his leg-spinners.

In the first match against Guyana, he made 70 not out and claimed match figures of 2-21 and 2-46 to guide Jamaica to a nine wicket win and with it claimed the Man-of-the-Match, while in the team's next match, he slammed 118 not out and claimed 4-67 and 7-94, to again propel Jamaica to a innings and 38 run win over former leaders the Leeward Islands.

"My goal heading into the championship was to get over 20 wickets, if I played all five matches, and make a half-century on at least three occasions if I batted," said Dewar, who also picked up the Man-of-the-Match award last Sunday in the Leewards game.

All-rounder

"This is because I see my self as an allrounder. Not just a bowler as people always think, but to show that I could bat as well.

"So far it's going very well for myself and the team. My batting is helping the team to get into winning positions and eventually winning games.

"The hope is to continue on the same trend that I have been operating, and you cannot tell what will happen, we may end up winning the competition," he added.

A 17-year-old fifth form student, Dewar, who after being excluded from the Jamaica team last year, was invited to the national senior team trials.

The experience, he says, he will not forget. He has since been improving his bowling and batting skills and this season emerged as the leading wicket taker in the ISSA urban area Grace Shield competition. He also took Kingston College to the semi-finals of the championship.

But it was the Under-19 team that was his main objective, and after making the squad a month ago he was happy, only to be cast into disappointment once again after the team for the first match of this year's championship was named.

"While I was out of the team I kept praying that if I get a game I would really like to make a difference ... be a standout and so far it has been so good," said relieved-sounding Dewar.

Dewar also went on to list his short to medium to long term goals.

"Personally, if we win, it would be good to know that I played a key role, and would be good for me in the future to be able to look back on the fact that I played on a Jamaica team that won.

"Also, my aim is to make the West Indies Under-19 team for next year's [ICC] Youth World Cup, then to play regional cricket for Jamaica, and one day represent the West Indies senior team."