Barbados’ Under-19 men began the CWI Rising Stars Men’s U19 50-Over Championship in dominant fashion, beating their Windward Islands counterparts by 114 runs.
Barbados set the stage for the massive blowout by scoring 392/9 from their 0 overs, courtesy of three half-centuries and 49 from just 16 balls from R’Jai Gittens in the lower order.
Earlier, Gadson Bowens smashed 62 from 40 at the top of the innings, while No. 3 batsman, Jordan Graham scored 76 from 43 in a partnership worth 135 in just 78 deliveries.
The runs did not stop flowing thereafter either, as Kemar Dixon scored a more sedate 67 from 73 deliveries before Raphael Lovell (31 from 29) and Gittens came together to create more carnage.
Gittens was particularly severe, smashing five fours and four sixes on his way to his total.
For the Windwards, Aiden Burton was the best bowler with 3-36 from his 10 overs. He received strong support from Kevin Joseph, who took 2-51.
Facing the mammoth total, the Windward Islands were never really in the game, despite Captain Theo Edward’s belligerence at the top of the order.
Edward scored 92 from just 77 deliveries but watched as his opening partner, Derwin Lewis (4), and Earsinho Fontaine (3), failed to stick to the plot.
Burton tried to help repair the innings with a gritty 47 from 73 but the scoreboard pressure was too much. Tyler Venner propped up the lower order with an unbeaten 67 from 61, but his fireworks came too late, leaving the Windwards at 273-7 after 50 overs.
Reejav Parsooram with 3-46 was the best bowler for Barbados, with support coming from the slightly expensive Jahidi Hids, 2-63 from eight overs.
