Jamaica continue to ease their way through the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Championship as they defeated the Windward Islands on Monday in St Vincent and the Grenadines and look set to win the tournament.

Chasing 111, the Jamaicans eased to victory winning by eight wickets in just 22.5 overs. Steven Wedderburn and Captain Brian Barnes led the chase, both reaching unbeaten scores of 48 and 26, respectively. Earlier in the day, left-arm spinner Alex Hinds and pacer Nashane Meade led the bowling attack with three wickets each to help restrict Windward Islands.

Jamaica started the competition beating Guyana by eight wickets last week Tuesday with another impressive display from the team’s bowling unit. Restricting Guyana to just 78, all-rounder Michael Clarke was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-13 from four overs and left-arm seamer, Reon Edwards, took 3-18 in just 4.4 overs. West Indies Under-19 representative Jordan Johnson led the chase with an unbeaten 28 from 20 balls.

Trinidad and Tobago were next to feel the wrath of the Jamaican bowlers last Thursday. Batting first, they were bowled out for 158 after 47.2 overs with Clarke and Edwards leading the charge once again taking three wickets each. Opener Adrian Weir gave the team a great start scoring 36 runs off 41 balls, smashing two fours and three sixes in the process.

However, it was Johnson who led the chase as he finished with an unbeaten 57 off 67 balls, to see Jamaica win by six wickets with 17 overs remaining.

The Jamaicans then faced Leeward Islands on Saturday in a rain-affected encounter reduced to 41 overs. Leeward posted a total of 157 after 40.3 overs, with leg spinner, Tamarie Redwood taking 4 for 24 after 8 overs and Hinds taking 3 for 22 after 9 overs.

The Jamaicans were able to win comfortably by six wickets on Duckworth Lewis System after scoring 121 in 20 overs before the rain stopped play. Johnson continued his fine form by scoring another unbeaten half-century. Limping for majority of his innings due to an apparent hamstring injury, he smashed seven fours and one mighty six to give his team victory, scoring 59 off 52 balls.

Jamaica will play their last group game against Barbados on Wednesday and will compete in the regional three-day, red-ball competition starting on Saturday, July 15.