BALMAIN, Trinidad – Leeward Islands captain Tanez Francis produced a captain’s knock for the ages, smashing the first century of the CWI Rising Stars Under-17 Men’s 50-Over Championship to guide his side to a nail-biting, one-wicket victory over Jamaica under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method on Monday.
In a contest reduced to 35 overs a side at the National Cricket Centre, Jamaica posted a competitive 186 for eight, powered by Demarco Scott’s 57 and Odane Binns’ 39, the pair adding a vital 79-run stand for the fourth wicket. Kasim Challenger (3-31) and Kunal Tilokani (2-19) were the pick of the Leewards’ bowlers.
Chasing a revised target of 197, Francis took command at the top of the order, hammering 110 off 94 balls with five fours and four sixes. His brilliance carried the Leewards to a seemingly unassailable 174 for two by the 29th over, but a late collapse saw eight wickets tumble for just 19 runs.
With the scores tied and nine wickets down, tailenders Jathan Edward and T’sharvier Pemberton held their nerve, edging the Leewards across the line with an over to spare. For Jamaica, Adrian Silvera’s five-wicket haul (5-26) nearly turned the tide, while Ryan Littleton chipped in with 2-44.
Dhanraj’s seven-wicket burst sinks Windwards
At Gilbert Park in California, left-arm pacer Daron Dhanraj turned in a spell for the ages, ripping through the Windward Islands with figures of 7-22 to set up Trinidad and Tobago’s first win of the campaign.
The Windwards, unbeaten heading into the contest, crumbled for 125 in 42.4 overs, with only Johnathan Daniel (34) and Tyler Venner (31) showing resistance.
T&T then rode a solid opening stand of 50 between Christian Lall (44) and Saleem Khan (23), before Roberto Badree’s unbeaten 24 guided them to victory at 130 for five in 27.4 overs. The five-wicket triumph handed the hosts a crucial boost in the standings.
Barbados dominate Guyana in seven-wicket romp
Meanwhile, at Inshan Ali Park, Barbados cruised past Guyana by seven wickets after a disciplined bowling effort. Justin Parris (3 wickets), Raphael Lovell (2), and Asher Branford (2) combined to dismiss Guyana for a meagre 105 in 27.5 overs. Only Parmeshwar Ram (24) and Shamar Apple (23) offered resistance, with extras (24) emerging as the second-highest contributor to the total.
In reply, Barbados overcame early jitters thanks to captain Gadson Bowens, who struck a composed, match-winning 50 not out from 46 balls, featuring three fours and two sixes. His leadership ensured Barbados reached 108 for three in just 20 overs, sealing a commanding victory.
Rain adds drama to championship
With rain disruptions forcing all three games onto the DLS system, round two delivered both high drama and individual brilliance. Francis’s match-winning century and Dhanraj’s destructive spell now stand as defining highlights of a tournament already brimming with unpredictability.
