HOLDERS Guyana will face hosts Jamaica at Manchester High School in the central town of Mandeville, when the Regional Under-19 Super50 Tournament opens on Wednesday, July 22.
The Guyanese captured the 50 overs-a-side title, as well as the 3-Day crown last year, to complete the Under-19 double, when the tournaments were staged in their homeland.
The Final of the 50 overs-a-side competition against the Jamaica was abandoned however, without a ball being bowled at Everest in the Guyana capital of Georgetown, due to rain.
This followed an unbeaten run in the preliminary competition, which included a 68-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis Method over Jamaica at Bourda Oval, also located in Georgetown.
In the other first round matches of this year’s tournament, Windward Islands meet ICC Americas at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School in south-western Jamaica, and sparks can be expected to fly when Barbados tackle old rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Jamalco in central Jamaica.
Leeward Islands have drawn a bye first up, before opening their account against the Barbadians in the second round of matches on the following day at Ewarton, situated centrally between the well-known locations of Spanish Town and Ocho Rios.
The tournament fields seven teams – the six territorial sides from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and Windward Islands – along with a side from ICC Americas.
Each of the teams will play the other once in a round-robin competition, featuring seven rounds of 50 overs-a-side matches, with the two teams accumulating the most points qualifying for the Final to determine the tournament winner on Sunday, August 2, at the Treasure Beach Sports Park in south-western Jamaica.