Fast bowler Fidel Edwards' five-wicket haul helped Barbados clinch a 14-run victory over Leeward Islands at Bourda. Edwards finished with figures of 5 for 61 as Barbados defended their total of 230 and earned a place in the semi-finals, following their second successive victory.
Edwards halted Leewards' steady start - the openers added 41 - with three wickets in four balls. After removing Shane Jeffers and Tonito Willet in successive deliveries, he began his next over with a wide, and then yorked Omari Banks. With Leewards jolted at 64 for 4, Runako Morton and Steve Liburd buckled down with a stand of 82 to revive the chase. However, Barbados hit back with the run-out of Liburd for 30 and Edwards returned to dismiss Morton - chopping one onto his stumps - for 65. Morton counter-attacked in his 71-ball knock, scoring five fours and a six, but Leewards were never able to recover after he was dismissed. In the end, Leewards were wrapped up for 216 in only the 41st over.
Earlier, Barbados were lifted by half-centuries from Dale Richards and Jonathan Carter. Richards made 57 off 63 balls that included 11 fours, while Carter, in only his second match at this level, top-scored with 71 off 98 balls with nine fours. A quick three-wicket burst reduced Barbados to 102 for 4, before Carter and Ryan Wiggins lifted the score to 188. They were unable to push the scoring in the last ten overs and lost quick wickets in the process. However, the total of 230 proved to be sufficient in the end.
It took just 13 overs for Jamaica to chase down West Indies Under-19s paltry total of 110 in Enmore and bag two bonus points. Chris Gayle led the assault with 71, and Jamaica coasted home by nine wickets after Gayle's opening stand with Brenton Parchment produced 104 runs.
Gayle's decision to insert the opposition was justified after West Indies U-19s lost two wickets - to Daren Powell - without opening their account. Sharmarh Brooks was the only player who offered some resistance with 36, but the rest failed to come good as the Jamaica spinners - Nikita Miller and Tamar Lambert - ran through the middle and lower order. Miller ended with miserly figures of 3 for 9 in 8.4 overs while Lambert took 3 for 15 to bundle out the opposition in the 37th over.