WITH hosts Jamaica having an off day, Guyana rose to the top of the standings in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19 Championships with a seven-wicket win over Barbados at Chedwin Park yesterday.

The Guyanese, who started the day on 12.7 points, have now moved up to 19.1 points, ahead of the Windward Islands (13.7) and Jamaica (13.4).

Scores: Barbados 216-8 (50 overs); Guyana 218-3 (33.2 overs).

Guyana won the toss and insisted the Barbadians to take first strike. The decision bore fruit early when Leniko Boucher was run out with the score at three. A 62-run second-wicket stand between Lee-Germon Gaskin, who top-scored with 65, and Akil Greenidge (28) steadied the innings for Barbados until the latter was unfortunately run out.

And despite a few useful partnerships, the Barbadians were eventually restricted to a moderate total after exhausting their allotted overs. Shamar Springer (36) was the next best scorer for Barbados against Keemo Paul (2-42) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (2-40).

The Guyanese run chase began positively with a 48-run opening stand between Shimron Hetmyer and Tevin Imlach. But when Imlach went, bowled for 11, Hetmyer continued to press on and slammed 16 fours and one six in his knock of 98, while dominating a 104-run second-wicket stand with Balchand Baldeo (23) that laid the platform for the victory.

And when both batsmen went, caught off the bowling of Nicholas Kirton, it only required a further 31 runs, which were comfortably picked up by Paul (29) and Captain Travis Persaud (19), who both ended unbeaten. Kirton ended with two for 37, while Tremaine Harris got the other wicket for 36 runs.

Previous leaders, the Windward Islands, suffered their second setback of the tournament in a narrow one-wicket defeat to the Leeward Islands at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

Scores: The Windward Islands 141 all out (39.3 overs); the Leeward Islands 142-9 (49.3 overs).

The Windwards won the toss and decided to bat, which they might have regretted as they lost their first five wickets with 72 runs on the board. But a 34-run sixth-wicket partnership between Josiah Hilton and Ryan John restored hopes of posting a respectable total.

However, Hilton’s wicket, for a top score of 47, caused a collapse and it was a 22-run ninth-wicket stand dominated by John (36 not out) which saved them from an even more embarrassing total. Alzarri Joseph (3-11) led the bowling attack with support from Collin Archibald Jr (3-27).

The Leewards made hard work of the run chase and just got home, thanks to the in-form Tyrone Williams (43) and Saeed Williams (30). Othniel Lewis (3-22) and Johnel Eugene (2-6) led the bowling for the Windward Islands.

Meanwhile, Trinidad & Tobago have found their stride as they dispatched Canada by 138 runs at Jamalco Sports Complex.

Scores: Trinidad and Tobago 283-9 (45 overs); Canada 145 all out (43.3 overs).

With the game reduced to 45 overs per innings, Trinidad & Tobago won the toss and amassed a daunting total, thanks to half-centuries by Amir Jangoo (64) and Cephas Cooper (67). There were also noteworthy contributions from Anderson Phillip, who was unbeaten on 44, as well as Bryan Boodram (31) and Jameel Maniram (26). Four bowlers took two wickets each for Canada.

Phillip returned to take three for 29 and Clevon Kalawan two for 32 to dismiss Canada, who never really got going.

Captain Abraash Khan (24) and Shlok Patel (19 not out) were the only batsmen to offer any worthwhile resistance.