by LOUIS HOLDER in Guyana

THE DREADED WEATHER that has plagued the Barbados Cricket Team moreso than the other teams in this years' TCL Under-19 Tournament continued here yesterday. The first day's play in their final preliminary round-robin match against Guyana was washed out completely.

Both teams made the journey from their respective hotels to the famous Bourda ground, only as a mere formality, as heavy early morning showers left the field and the surrounding area thoroughly drenched. On this occasion, there was no need for any inspection, since the rain fell steadily throughout the morning and it was only around midday that the skies began to clear, but there was no sunshine.

The steady showers have cast doubt over the start of the second day's play today, and though the Bourda Ground dries rather quickly, fingers will be crossed as the entire second day may yet be lost.

"It's unfortunate but this has been the trend so far with most of our matches being affected by the unseasonable rain," a somewhat dejected Dexter Toppin, coach of the Barbados team, told WEEKENDSPORT.

The match is seen as the forerunner to the big final, as the same two teams would be involved. Hosts Guyana, who have been much more fortunate as far as the rain is concerned, secured three victories in the round-robin preliminary matches and with points for first innings lead in their other match, have amassed an unbeatable 42 points.

In so doing they emerged winners of the League Championship. Even if their nearest rivals, Barbados, (28 points) secured full points (12) from the match, they could only reach a maximum of 40 points.

The other two matches, Trinidad and Tobago against the Leeward and Jamaica versus the Windward were also washed out.