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Barbados want the double, Jamaica want revenge

That's the situation as the two teams meet in today's final of the Nortel Networks West Indies Under-19 limited overs cricket final at Kensington Oval, which should be a cracker.

Jamaica, the defending champions, meet the three-day champions in a contest which is spiced by Barbados' win over Jamaica in the three-day semifinal nine days ago.

But the home team is ready for what the visitors have to throw at them. Speaking yesterday, coach Richard Straker said his team is confident of defeating Jamaica and become the first team in Nortel history to do the double.

``We don't expect a walkover,'' Straker himself a former national junior and senior player said. ``We are not afraid, because we know we can hold our own.

``It's the final and obviously we want to win. They (Jamaica) are good and we are good. This all makes for what should be a good game.''

Straker praised his team for their unity and tenacity, which he said had been the hallmark of them often defying the odds during the competition.

``This team has got character and they play well together,'' Straker said. ``Once the bell rings (for play to begin) they will do the job and I am very pleased with the way they have been performing.''

All the players, with the exception of Jedson Yarde with a damaged hand, are fit, but there was concern over batsman Kurt Wilkinson. During Thursday's semifinal against Guyana he injured his hip but received medical treatment during the game.

Jamaica cruised into the final with commanding victories over Canada and the Leeward Islands, clearly sending a warning that they have no intention of surrendering their title, won last year in Trinidad.

Both teams boast some of the most talented players in the tournament, with Ryan Hinds, who played in the Busta Cup regional four-day competition and also represented the West Indies Board XI against Australia, generally regarded as the brightest prospect.

He was the most prolific batsman in the three-day championship, with 487 runs, studded by two centuries as well as an unbeaten 91, at an average of 81.16 and has carried his form into the One-Day tourney with knocks of 43 not out and 57.

Barbados' fortunes rest with Hinds' authoritative left-handed batting and, to a lesser extent, his tidy left-arm spin bowling, while Jamaica depend heavily on gifted all-rounder Marlon Samuels, who has appeared in one first-class match to date.

Samuels, was the leading all-rounder in the three-day championship, smashing two sparkling centuries in 398 runs at an average of 79.60 and capturing 14 wickets with his off-breaks at just 12.78 apiece.

Apart from these two, the sides are evenly matched and with West Indies Under-19 spots up for grabs, fans can expect a fierce contest, with sparkling moments.

Teams:

Barbados (from) – Ryan Hinds (captain), Jason Haynes, Jason Parris, Dwayne Smith, Kurt Wilkinson, Rohan Nurse, Vonrick Nurse, Callitos Lopez, Sulieman Benn, Ryan Austin, Antonio Thomas, Marlon Franklyn, Jedson Yarde, Damien Maynard.

Jamaica (from) – Tamar Lambert (captain), Brenton Parchment, David Bernard, Carlton Baugh, Marlon Samuels, Barrington Bartley, Andrew Richardson, Mel Wint, Kamal Dennis, Rashad Marshall, Germaine Lawson, Philip Keating, Kevin Peart, Glenmore Hall.