BASSETERRE, St Kitts(CMC):

The Windward Islands survived a late order batting collapse to narrowly avoid defeat by Jamaica in their final round TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge match yesterday.

Guyana, leaders going into the final round, claimed their 13th regional youth title when they defeated Barbados by four wickets at Cayon.

Set 174 to win after dismissing Barbados for 245, 14 minutes into the morning session, Guyana lost three wickets for two runs at one stage but recovered to reach 174 for six and finish the tournament on 42 points. Jamaica ended with 30 points.

Careless batsmen

After being in control for most of the game played at the Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex, the Windwards, set 199 for victory in two sessions after Jamaica declared at 244 for six at lunch, were 184 for nine when the last of the 15 mandatory over was bowled on the final day.

Lindon Lawrence (24) and Wayne Harper (3) set the tone for the Windward Islands run chase belting 30 runs from the first five overs. As the batsmen became more careless with their stroke play, however, the Jamaica bowlers were able to pick up three quick wickets to peg back their opponents at 60 for three.

Captain Lauron Francois, who made an unbeaten 46, and Donwell Hector (71) repaired the damage with a 90-run fourth wicket partnership and saw their side to the tea interval at 107 without further loss. They pushed the scoring on after the interval, but Hector's dismissal triggered a slide that saw six wickets tumble for 34 runs.

It was left to Francois and the last batsma Audain to bat out the last three overs of the day to secure a tense draw. Andre Creary was the pick of the bowlers for Jamaica claiming three wickets for 23, while Marlon Hoilette, who had a number of catches dropped from his bowling, took two for 26.

AT CONAREE: Leeward Islands and Trinidad & Tobago played toa draw.

draw. Scores: Leewards 179 (Jahmal Hamilton 34; Kavon Cooper 5-35, Varoon Samaroo 3-59) & 346-3 (Kieron Powell 103, Sherwin Peters 101 not out, Devon Thomas 66; Kjorn Ottley 2-71).T&T 202 (Darren Bravo 41, Varoon Samaroo 40, Milton Dookeran 35; Haydn Walsh Jr 3-33, Terrance Ward 4-48).

AT CAYON: Guyana beat Barbados by four wickets.Barbados 92 (Stefan Gooding 42 not out; Clive Andries 5-49) & 245 (Roger Williams 86, Rashidi Boucher 73, Kyle Hope 40; Stephen Jacobs 3-46, Veerasammy Permaul 3-75).

Guyana 164 (Robin Bacchus 55, Vishal Singh 37; Shamarh Brooks 5-58) & 174-6 (Vishal Singh 42, Steven Jacobs 35; Ashley Nurse 3-37).

Jamaica 1st Innings 209Windward Islands 1st Innings 255Jamaica 2nd Innings(overnight 104 for two)

A. Creary run out 61
S. Thomas lbw b Polius 27
N. Bonner c Harper b Johnson 75
D. Green b Johnson 19
M. Hoilette not out 3 Extras (b2, lb4) 6 Total (6 wkts decl.) 244

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-75, 3-108, 4-187, 5-237, 6-244.

Bowling: Grant 5-1-11-0, Johnson 8.5-0-47-2, Audain 25-3-52-0, Polius 20-1-88-3, Hector 6-0-22-0, Narine 5-0-18-0.

Windward Islands 2nd Innings

L. Lawrence run out 24
W. Harper lbw b Thompson 3
D. Hector lbw b Creary 71
K. Lesparis c Thompson b Hoilette 10
L. Francois not out 46
J. Charles c Merchant b Creary 1
D. Polius c Miller b Creary 0
D. Grant run out 2
M. Narine run out 8
D. Johnson c Miller b Hoilette 7
A. Audain not out 0
Extras (b3, lb6, nb3) 12
Total (9 wkts) 184
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-32, 3-60, 4-150, 5-152, 6-152, 7-155, 8-168, 9-184.
Bowling: Dawes 4-0-30-0, Thompson 8-0-35-1, Merchant 8-2-28-0, Hoilette 11-1-26-2, Green 4-1-13-0, Creary 16-5-23-3, Jones 7-0-20-0.
Result: Match drawn.