Heavy afternoon rain yesterday denied Barbados the opportunity of a crushing victory over the Leeward Islands, but no one can question their place in todays final of the Nortel youth cricket limited-overs championship.
When the second and final shower interrupted their semi-final match at Gilbert Park, Barbados were making light work of a target of 118, something much less than were anticipating after they had made an unimpressive start to the match.
Shawn Sargeant, playing with plenty of command, and Jason Haynes, just as assured, had already wiped off 57 in 11.1 overs after the early loss of Corey Yearwood.
The showers, which started at 2:05 p.m., were heavy enough to make the playing area inadequate and the match was called off just before 4:30 p.m.
Barbados, who finished second in the preliminaries, earned the right to contest the final against Jamaica at Queens Park Oval by virtue of winning more matches than the Leewards in the first phase of the competition.
It is a big satisfaction to reach the final, but their manager Darnley Boxill would have liked to see his team finish off the Leewards.
If you have a good kick, you will like to see it iced. If we had been allowed to continue it looked as though the boys would have made it rather easily, he told NATIONSPORT.
And what does he think about his teams chances in the final?
We feel that we are equipped to deal with Jamaica. Im pretty certain that the guys are going to give a very good account of themselves.
The final will be played on a Queens Park pitch that will be used for the seventh successive day. It climaxes a tournament which was hastily arranged after heavy seasonal rain washed out the first two rounds of matches in the planned three-day championship.
In the event that the elements feature today and there is no result, Barbados and Jamaica will be declared joint champions.
The Leewards have always been prone to collapses but hardly anyone could have predicted yesterdays drama with nine wickets tumbling for 49 following their promising beginning.
Marlon Grahams captaincy has been outstanding throughout the entire tournament and with conditions becoming ideal for swing bowling, he called on Mayers to stop the Leewards advance which was centred around the forthright left-handed opener Amwa Prince.
When Mayers started the 19th over of the innings, the Leewards were 68 for one. By the time the over was finished, the entire complexion of the match had been changed by the dismissals of Omari Banks, captain Sylvester Joseph and Prince.
The Leewards had been shell-shocked and Barbados suddenly lifted their game. The bowling became tighter and the fielding highlighted by fine catches from Yearwood, Ryan Hinds, Jason Haynes and a direct throw from Anthony Hurley at square-leg to the bowler's end.
There was also a fast leg-side stumping by Corey Glasgow that gave left-armer Hinds one of his two wickets.