Service: Pressure was too much for U-15s
COACH PHILLIP Service believes not being able to handle the pressure of having to score over five runs per over in the latter stages of their chase was one of the main reasons why Jamaica lost by four runs to Guyana in their crucial Cricket West Indies Under-15 Championship clash at Port Esquivel on Monday.
Needing to score 182 for victory off 50 overs, Jamaica ended on 177 for six when the overs ran out. This was after the team was cruising at one stage on 112 without loss after 32 overs.
The result sent Jamaica crashing from the six-team round-robin championship after entering the contest with a record of two wins and a loss.
Guyana with a record of four wins and title-holders Barbados with three wins and a defeat, will meet today at Kensington Park in the final round of matches with the winners set to be crowned champions.
“We had done all the hard work by building a foundation for the chase but just could not deliver,” explained Service.
“It is a case of when the run rate becomes five or more per over in the latter stages of an innings at this level, the pressure can be quite high. That is what happened to us, and our batsmen cracked.”
TOP SCORERS
Openers Jordan Johnson and Adrian Weir, who scored 54 and 48, respectively, made the most runs for Jamaica with Javon Nembhard, 19, being next best.
The championship’s leading scorer, Sanjay Walker, who entered the game with consecutive knocks of 51, 49 and 64 not out, could only manage eight.
“It’s bit of a disappointment, but it must be remembered that these are junior players, and the only hope is that they will learn from the experience,” added Service.
Jamaica will play the Windward Islands in their final fixture at Chedwin Park today. In another match, Trinidad and Tobago oppose Leeward Islands at Melbourne Oval.