Sport

Ja Under-19s hunt double

Alton Beckford - file photos

KINGSTOWN, ST VINCENT, CMC

DEFENDING THREE-DAY league champions Jamaica, searching for back-to-back titles in the TCL Group West Indies Cricket Challenge, will start as firm favourites when they take on the Windward Islands in round two of the competition at Sion Hill today.

The Jamie Trenchfield-led team scored an authoritative win against Trinidad and Tobago in the opening round of the tournament on Wed-nesday at the Stubbs Playing Field.

Victory charge

Leading the victory charge for the title holders, were right-arm leg-spinner Alton Beckford, who had figures of five for 23 in Trinidad and Tobago's first innings, and left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli, who captured six for 45 in the final innings of the match.

Both Beckford and Bulli were members of their national team which won the title last year in Jamaica and will again be expected to lead from the front in today's encounter.

The Windwards, who were thrashed by limited overs champions Barbados in the opener, will have to lift their performance to stay in contention for the title.

In the feature attraction of the round, the unbeaten Barbados and Guyana will clash in a cross-zone match at the Stubbs Playing Field.

Both teams will be searching for outright victories to qualify for the final.

Barbados will depend on Nicholas Squires for inspired guidance, while the Guyanese will again rely on Jason Sripal to lead them forward.

All-rounder Shamarh Brooks, who performed well with both bat and ball in their opening game, will also be expected to feature prominently for Barbados.

In the remaining match, Trinidad and Tobago, led by their latest spin sensation Sunil Narine, will have a slight advantage against the Leewards at the Arnos Vale Recreation Ground.

All matches start at 10:00 a.m.