Thirteen days after the scheduled start of the rain-affected Nortel Youth Cricket Championship, Barbados kicked off their campaign with an easy six-wicket victory that showed no signs of several days idling.
The Leewards Islands, sent in under bright, sunny skies, never got on top of things. Their total of 109 was never going to be enough for Barbados, who achieved the target with 8.2 overs to spare.
Opener Corey Yearwood built on the favourable position left by the bowlers with a solid half-century that was highlighted by driving through the offside and in particular on mighty shot that sailed over the bowlers head.
Barbados should have won by eight wickets, but with three runs needed Yearwood, who made 57 off 97 balls, and Antonio Mayers, who enjoyed a fine all-round match, went in a careless way after they put on 56 with little bother.
The pitch at the Squadron ground in Arouca was a trifle slow and the outfield very sluggish, making it difficult for run-scoring.
But that should not take away from Barbados all-round professional display after Marlon Graham won the toss.
With the outfield still slightly damp, after Mondays rain, the start was delayed by a hour-and-a-half and the match reduced to a 44-overs-a-side contest.
Barbados bowling was tight all the way through and at no stage did the Leewards manage to get their scoring rate up to three runs an over.
Left-arm Sulieman Benn, given the new ball, led the way with nine straight overs in which he gave away just 16 runs and collected two wickets in successive balls.
Mayers swoopped low at slip to haul in a catch offered by Shane Jeffers. The very next ball was a faster and flatter one that trapped Omari Banks LBW.
Mayers, brought on as first-change, delivered his medium-pace under perfect line and length.
He broke the opening stand and, after the most promising stand of the innings, he removed both batsmen, one of whom was the important wicket of captain Sylvester Joseph.
The Leewards are heavily dependent on Joseph and once Mayers claimed him with the help of wicketkeeper Corey Glasglow, Barbados appeared to have the advantage at 67 for five in the 24th over.
Joseph, who made 23 off 36 balls, was undone by a leg-cutter and the keeper neatly removed the bails.
Joseph and Amwa Prince added 33 after coming together at 34 for three and Mayers first accounted for Prince, who was caught by Ben running around from extra-over.
Barbados ground fielding was by no means of a high standard but they neatly effected two run outs.
Yearwood had a direct throw from point, while Mayers quickly covered ground on the third-man boundary, immediately released the ball over the stumps and the keeper did the rest.
The Leewards also started out with spin but it posed no threat to Yearwood and Shawn Sargeant.
They put on 40 in 11 overs before Sargeant launched into a massive swipe against Chaka Hodges off-spin and was bowled for nine.
Barbados also lost out-of-sorts captain Marlon Graham, who was bowled attempting to pull leg-spinner Sinclair Challenger. But Yearwood and Mayers seemed on course to complete the win before both went in consecutive overs.
Yearwood, searching for an impossible single to cover, fell in mid-pitch and was unable to get up after twisting his ankle. Mayers, who made 28 off 61 balls, provided a catch to midwicket.
At Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago beat the Windward Islands by 78 runs.
Today, Barbados oppose the Windwards at the same venue; fellow first series winners Trinidad and Tobago meet Jamaica, and Guyana face the Leewards.