Barbados U19 Team Emerges Victorious in 2024 West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 2-Day Final, Sets Sights on 50-Over Title

Barbados are the 2024 West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 2-Day Champions, having taken first-innings points from defending champions, Jamaica, in the final at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines on Sunday. And now they are hungry for further success.

A half-century from Raneico Smith when first put in to bat earned Barbados batting points, guiding them to 200-9 declared. Overall tight bowling and three-wicket hauls for fast bowler Jatario Prescod (3-51 from 14 overs) and spinner Saurav Worrell (3-24 from 10) helped them restrict Jamaica to 127-8 declared.

Then, on the second day, Kyle Jordan (62) and wicketkeeper Joshua Morris (52) combined for a 96-run opening stand that ended the game as a contest. For Jordan, it was his second half-century of the tournament.

But the run is not over, as the Barbados U19 team is on a mission to capture multiple titles. The 2-Day Champions are upbeat, confident, and ready to bring it all for the 50-over title, which begins on Tuesday.

Captain Nathan Sealy articulated the feeling as “amazing” after leading his team to the 2- Day title, which has eluded him for the past two years while representing Barbados at these Championships.

“It’s been an all around collective effort from the team,” Sealy indicated. “But to be very honest, I have to give a big shout out to Jatario Prescod, for the majority of the games he really rescued us from a bad situation, he put his hand up, he fought for the team.”

Team manager, Jabbar Niles shared his feelings about the team also. “The mood in the camp is a very elated and joyous feeling,” he pronounced. “There is also a sense of relief as well, after back-to-back finals losses in this red ball version of the tournament.’

Niles also noted similar sentiments as Sealy, speaking on the importance and unified effort of the entire squad, along with the praises of Prescod who made two timely half centuries.

“The tournament was very challenging and needed a collective team effort to achieve this goal,” he told Barbados TODAY. “Jatario Prescod’s performances stood out, where batting at nine in the first game he was at that time the unlikely hero with the bat, he continued his excellent form with both bat and ball for all four games.”

He also made mention of the importance in having the strong support and experience of the coaches.

“The knowledge and experience of both head coach Sherwin Campbell and assistant coach Dexter Toppin was also very imperative to the success of the tournament and you could see from the planning, execution and resilience throughout the tournament,” Niles added.

The expectations remain the same going into the 50-over competition. The Bajan Boys will be looking to complete the double, as Sealy and his team reiterated that the goal is to return home as double crown champions.

Steven R Leslie, Manager Marketing and Communications for the Barbados Cricket Association, added his commendations. In a statement to Barbados TODAY he, too, laid his sights firmly on the double.

“Congratulations and high commendations are in order for the Barbados Under-19 squad,” said Leslie. “The focus of this group remained intact despite the delay in the commencement of the tournament as a result of the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

“Nathan Sealy has led the side admirably thus far and the goal of achieving the ‘double’ may be realised once the tactics and strategies of the well-balanced squad are executed during the limited overs section.”

Leslie also heaped praise on the management team, including physiotherapist Dominic Angoy, as he expressed the hope that the team will “bring more glory to themselves, supporters, and the island.”

For the white ball version of this competition there will be a round robin format. Each team plays each other once, and the team with the most points will be declared champions.

Bowling points along with bonus points for fast bowlers and wrist spinners are still in play.

Barbados take on the Windward Islands in their first game at Park Hill. (ZM)