Jamaica's Brian Clarke (right) celebrates after taking a catch against Barbados in the TCL Group WICB Under-19 Cup at Kensington Park. Stand-in wicket-keeper Courtnay Allen (left) and captain, Paul Palmer Jr (second right), look on. Jamaica won by 10 wickets to lift the championship trophy. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

Jamaica's Under-19 cricketers yesterday pulled off an amazing 10-wickets win over defending champions Barbados at Kensington Park to win the regional three-day TCL Group WICB Under-19 Cup.

Needing to take a mammoth 13 wickets on yesterday's third and final day, and hope that previous title-favourites Trinidad and Tobago fail to record a come-from-behind outright win over lowly placed Guyana at Elletson Road, Jamaica achieved victory on inspirational bowling performances from their spin bowlers, Kingston College's Akeem Dewar and Tacky High's John Campbell.

Dewar who is a strong candidate for the championship's Most Valuable Player award, claimed 4-27, and Campbell 3-41, in Barbados' second innings, and Moneague College's Patrick Harty and Holmwood Technical's Jermaine Blackwood snared 5-77 and 2-28, respectively, in their first, as Barbados, 249 runs behind at the start of the day were bowled out for 284 and 154.

Set a victory target of three runs, Jamaica then raced to their victory target at 4-0, much to the joy and jubilation of players and officials, and a number of spectators who journeyed to the venue to witness the contest.

"Yes, we did it. Hooray, hooray!" were some of the shouts of the players, who ran on to the field en mass, and lifted Manchester High opener Brian Clarke and Campbell, who scored the winning run.

"It feels good to be champions," said Jamaica's captain, St Elizabeth Technical's Paul Palmer Jr. "After losing the first match against Trinidad and Tobago many persons wrote us off. But we knew that we had it in us to win and to see it manifested today is really a good feeling.

Thanks

"Thanks to the coaching staff that believed in us, thanks to players who worked hard and thanks to the spectators who cheered us on everywhere we went. This one's for you," he added.

In winning the showdown, which saw Manchester High middle-order batsman Courtnay Allen receiving the man-of-the-match award for his 121 not out in Jamaica's innings, the hosts jumped to 48 points, three more than Trinidad whose game against Guyana ended in a draw, and 17 more than the defending champions.

The victory also saw Jamaica recording their fourth straight win after missing out against Trinidad in their opener, and puts the team on course to cop the coveted double, with the one-day championship, which starts tomorrow, to come.

"It was an interesting day," said Jamaica's coach, Andre Coley, who was all smiles at the end, having endured much criticism throughout the championship for not playing Dewar in the first match.

"It was a total team effort, and credit to the players. They showed good character to bounce back from the first match defeat. We now look forward to the limited overs version of the tournament where we hope to secure the double," he added.

Tabulate under: Teams; M - Matches; W - Wins; L=Losses; D=Draws; PTS=Points

POINTS STANDINGS (Final)