port of spain, trinidad, (cmc)

Batting sensation Kraigg Brathwaite hammered a half-century as Barbados made a successful start to the Regional Under-17 Championship, while Jamaica also strolled into winners' row in the opening series of matches yesterday.

Brathwaite scored 79 to lift Barbados to a 28-run defeat of Guyana, while Jamaica, propelled by a strong all-round performance, cantered to an easy, eight-wicket win over Leeward Islands.

At the Invaders Cricket Ground, Jamaica, lifted by a solid performance in both their bowling and their batting, had little difficulty in dismissing the Leewards.

In a match reduced to 43 overs after the venue was switched from Inshan Ali Park, Leewards were dismissed for a meagre 107 in 38 overs, after they won the toss and batted.

Darren Benta top scored with a hard-fought 27 off 40 balls with one four and a six, while medium-pacer Nicholson Gordon grabbed three for 12 to be Jamaica's top bowler. There were two wickets apiece for Jermaine Blackwood (2-24) and Donovan Nelson 2-28).

In reply, Jamaica cantered to victory in 27.5 overs, with Man-of-the-Match John Campbell stroking an unbeaten 40 off 82 deliveries with two fours.

Hosts Trinidad & Tobago also got off to a winning start when they beat Windward Islands by 115 runs.

Playing at Gilbert Park, Barbados, the reigning TCL Group West Indies Cricket Challenge three-day champions, tallied a competitive 198 all out off 49.5 overs.

Brathwaite top scored with a workmanlike 79 off 125 balls including two fours, and received admirable support from Roston Chase who scored an even 50 off 74 deliveries with four fours and a six.