PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago captured the CWI Rising Stars Under-17 Men’s 50-Over Championship in dramatic fashion on Sunday, toppling tournament leaders Barbados by 23 runs in the decisive fifth round.
The result not only handed Barbados their first defeat of the campaign but also denied them the chance of completing the double, after their success in the two-day format last month.
With the Leeward Islands’ hopes dashed when rain forced the abandonment of their fixture against the Windward Islands, T&T’s inspired performance at Gilbert Park propelled them from third place to the championship.
Ramsaran and Batoosingh steady the innings
Sent in to bat, T&T stumbled to 38 for three, leaving their title bid under early pressure. A composed 71-run partnership between Aadi Ramsaran and Darrius Batoosingh revived the innings. Batoosingh made a steady 41 from 62 deliveries before falling to medium pacer Zarell Harding, but Ramsaran pressed on, crafting a fine 65 off 96 balls, including five towering sixes.
He later combined with Christiano Ramanan in a crucial 56-run stand for the fifth wicket, lifting T&T to 174 for six. Once Ramsaran was trapped lbw by Renaldo Bourne, the innings faded quickly, with the last four wickets tumbling for just 20 runs. Bourne finished with 3-44, while Justin Parris (2-30) and Jahidi Hinds (2-33) provided strong support as T&T ended on 194 all out.
Dhanraj and Ali Khan dismantle Barbados
In reply, Barbados’ usually powerful batting line-up faltered under the pressure of a disciplined T&T attack. Daron Dhanraj and Ra’ed Ali Khan ripped through the top order, reducing the Bajans to 49 for four by the 17th over.
Despite a spirited lower-order rally led by Raphael Lovell—who top-scored with 40—Barbados never fully recovered. Bourne chipped in with 17 and Asher Branford added 13, but with the pressure mounting, Ali Khan struck again to seal the win and the title.
Dhanraj finished with superb figures of 3-12, Ali Khan matched him with 3-15, and Renaldo Fournillier contributed with 2-46, ensuring Barbados were bundled out 23 runs short.
Jamaica finally break through
At the National Cricket Centre, Jamaica claimed their first win of the tournament, defeating Guyana by six wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Guyana, restricted to 118 for six in 21 rain-shortened overs, leaned on Shamar Apple’s 31, but no other batsman crossed 20. Extras (29) proved their second-highest contributor as Ramnaresh Singh took 3-25 with his leg spin.
In response, Odane Binns struck an unbeaten 57 off 58 balls, including three sixes and a four, guiding Jamaica to 122 for four in 19.5 overs. Together with Ryan Littleton (22 not out), he shared an unbroken 51-run partnership that secured the win and condemned Guyana to a winless campaign.
