Paul Palmer Jr

The battle for the right to be called 2009 TCL Group WICB U-19 champions will continue over the next three days with the playing of the final round of matches at Kensington Park, Elletson Road and Melbourne Oval.

At Kensington Park, second-place and title-chasing Jamaica, on 36 points, will square off with defending champions and mathematical outsiders Barbados, who have 31 points, while leaders and title favourites Trinidad and Tobago, who are on 42 points, and second-from-bottom Guyana (16) will face off at Elletson Road.

The day's other match-up, fourth-place Leeward Islands (24) versus last-place Windward Islands (4), will be played at Melbourne Oval.

Jamaica, who lost their first and only match to Trinidad and Tobago, have bounced back since to register three consecutive victories, and come today will be hoping that they can record an outright win against Barbados, and that Guyana prevent Trinidad from winning outright.

Such a scenario would see Jamaica lifting their first regional three-day crown in five years. Jamaica's last success at this level came in 2007 when they captured the one-day title.

"After losing our first match we have put ourselves in a position to seriously challenge for the title. We just have to take care of what we can take care of and hope that other results will fall in our favour," said Jamaica's coach, Andre Coley, who led Jamaica to the one-day title in 2007.

This year's one-day challenge is slated to begin next Wednesday.

Jamaica are again expected to stick with the same eleven which recorded victories in their last two games with in-form all-rounder, Kingston College's Akeem Dewar, stand-in captain, St Elizabeth Technical's Paul Palmer Jr, and opener, Manchester High's Brian Clarke, leading the way.

Dewar has so far taken 22 wickets at a scanty 7.30 apiece with innings of 70 not out, 118 not out, and 37 not out, and is yet to be dismissed in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Palmer, who has a century to his credit, Clarke, who has a couple of half-centuries under his belt, and off-spinner all-rounder, Holmwood Techincal's Jermaine Blackwood, who scored a near run-a-ball unbeaten 105 against the Windwards, should provide solid support.

Jamaica (from) Batsmen - Brian Clarke (Manchester High), John Campbell (Tacky High), Paul Palmer Jr (capt) (STETHS), Garth Garvey (St Jago), Courtnay Allen (Manchester High), Ramon Senior (Excelsior), Kemar Marshall (Manchester High). Bowlers - Romeo Dunka (Eltham High), Nicholson Gordon (STETHS), Jermaine Cole (Meadowbrook High), Jermaine Blackwood (Holmwood Technical), Patrick Harty Jr (Moneague College), Akeem Dewar (Kingston College). Wicketkeeper - Kirk Harris (Clarendon College).