Guyana’s promising youngsters came up just short in their bid for silverware, falling to a 49-run defeat against defending champions Barbados in the final of the 2025 Rising Stars Under-15 Championship on April 23.
Barbados posted a competitive 210 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, before dismissing Guyana for 160 in 45.3 overs to retain their title. The Guyanese side had reached the final with three wins from four matches and needed victory to claim the championship trophy.
However, standing in their way was a dominant Barbadian outfit, who entered the contest unbeaten after four successive wins and maintained their perfect record to be crowned champions once again.
In an online statement the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) commended “the young players for their efforts and fighting spirit throughout the competition.”
The regional youth competition, which got underway on April 15, featured six sides contesting five rounds of 50-over cricket across four venues: Coolidge Cricket Ground, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua Recreation Ground and Liberta Sports Ground.
Guyana made an encouraging start, defeating Trinidad and Tobago on the opening day. After restricting T&T to 168 all out in 48.4 overs, Guyana reached their target at 171 for 4 in 41.5 overs, led by a composed 64 from captain Richard Ramdeholl.
Their only group-stage defeat came on April 17 at the hands of Jamaica. Guyana were dismissed for 104 in just 28.1 overs, with Arif Bacchus top-scoring with 22. Jamaica comfortably chased down the total, reaching 106 for 3 in 29 overs, thanks in part to a measured 38 from Jayden Shaw.
They responded strongly on April 19 with a commanding performance against the Windward Islands. Lomar Seecharran was the standout, hitting 93 as his side posted 288 for 7 from their 50 overs. The Windwards were bowled out for 155 in 39.4 overs, with Jorden Charles providing resistance with 39.
That momentum carried through to their April 21 clash with the Leeward Islands, where Guyana chased down a target of 78 in 25 overs. Bacchus contributed a steady 23 off 67 balls, while Justin Dowlin added 21 from 45 deliveries.
The Guyanese team was captained by Richard Ramdeholl and included Luke Amsterdam, Arif Bacchus, Justin Dowlin, Patrice Fraser, Usain Fredericks, Brandon Henry, Prosper Jacobus, Reyaz Latif, Jathniel Nurse, Nathaniel Ramsammy, Shahid Ramzam and Lomar Seecharran.
They finished 18.6 points adrift of champions Barbados, who topped the table with 27.4 points after winning all five of their matches, and 1.2 points behind second-placed Trinidad and Tobago, who ended on 19.4.
