CRICKET WEST INDIES

 

Jamaica ended the six-team competition with 43.7 points ahead of Trinidad and Tobago on 39.5 points and third-place Barbados 36.5 points. The Jamaicans had three wins – by 10 wickets over T&T in the first round, by nine wickets against Barbados in the third round, and by an innings and 77 runs against Windward Islands in the final round which ended on Saturday. The other two matches were rain-hit.

 

Speaking after his side’s triumph, Samuels said: “The game against Barbados was a fantastic win for us and set-up the title for us. To come back, after losing first innings points, and bowl out Barbados for 63 in the second innings was a superb performance by this team and set-up everything that followed. That is the game I will remember as ‘the game’ of  2011. The win against the Windwards was the icing on the cake. We beat T&T in the first round and then worked really hard to get over Barbados. Everything fell into place.

 

“We were good in all departments. It was a fantastic effort allround by everyone and the players deserve all the praise. They worked really hard. The runs were shared, the wickets were shared and the fielding was outstanding. Credit must also go to those persons who helped to prepare the team and who assisted in the various departments. This is a victory, not just for the team here on duty, but for the whole of Jamaica.”

 

Samuels, a former West Indies batsman and Jamaica captain, added: “Jamaica has now won the senior regional tournament for the last four years and we won the Under-15 a few weeks ago as well, so this adds to the good work that has been done in Jamaica. We have to look after our cricketers to make sure that when they leave the junior level they are well equipped to move on to the higher level. I’m happy to see Jamaica doing so well at all levels in the West Indies.”

 

Jamaica 43.7

Trinidad & Tobago 39.5

Barbados 36.5

Guyana 18.9

Windwards 10.4

Leewards 10.0