Black Immigrant Daily News

Barbados defeated Trinidad and Tobago by 9 wickets in the second round of the Regional Under-19 Cricket Championships at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex here in St Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday, the third and final day of the match.

On Tuesday’s second day of the 3-day match, Barbados made 154 in their 1st innings with Vasant Singh taking 5-60 as they replied to Trinidad and Tobago’s 1st innings total of 107.

Trinidad and Tobago scored 168 in their 2nd innings and set Barbados a target of 122. Barbados completed victory yesterday at 122-1.

The final scores: Trinidad and Tobago 197 and 168, Barbados 154 and 122-1.

Jamaica defeated the Windward Islands by 201 runs in the third second round match yesterday at the Cumberland Playing Field.

The scores: The Windward Islands 172 and 121, Jamaica 265 and 229.

The match between the Leeward Islands and Guyana at the Park Hill Playing Field ended on Tuesday’s second day when the Leeward Islands won 10 wickets with a day to spare.

The final scores: Guyana 73 and 90, the Leeward Islands 151 and 14 without loss.

The third round of matches will be played on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Leeward Islands will meet Trinidad and Tobago at the Cumberland Playing Field. Jamaica will oppose Guyana at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex, and the Windward Islands will meet Barbados at the Park Hill Playing Field.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

LeBron James will extend his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for two years, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said yesterday.

Wojnarowski said James will sign the extension worth US$97.1 million, with a player option for the 2024-2025 season included in the deal.

James, 37, is entering the final year of his current contract that is worth US$44.5 million.

Regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history, James is a four-time NBA champion, winning the title twice with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, and once each with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and in 2020 with Los Angeles Lakers.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Shamarh Brooks scored 79 and shared a 75-run partnership with captain Nicholas Pooran which guided the West Indies to a five-wicket win over top-ranked New Zealand on Wednesday in the series-opening One-Day International (ODI) at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday night.

Brooks reached his fourth ODI half century from 58 balls and had faced 91 deliveries when he was out in the 34th over with the West Indies closing on New Zealand’s inadequate total of 190.

Jason Holder (13) and Jermaine Blackwood (12) were at the crease when the home team reached its target with 11 overs to spare.

Earlier, Akeal Hossain took three for 28 and Alzarri Joseph returned three for 36 as the West Indies bowled out New Zealand for 190 in 45.2 overs after choosing to bowl in the first of three ODIs.

It was the first time New Zealand have been dismissed in a 50-over match since March 2020.

“Watching the Kiwis bat I realized it was a bit tough going early for them,” Brooks said in a television interview. “I guess credit must go to our bowlers for reducing them to a score of 190.

“I was just focused on going out there, getting some partnerships and getting that total off.”

Rain breaks punctuated the West Indies innings but couldn’t disturb the steady momentum set by Brooks. The first came in the opening over of the innings and the second in the 29th when the West Indies were only 42 runs from victory. At that point the West Indies already were well ahead of a winning total under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

Pooran was out for 28 immediately after the second rain break but Brooks retained a strong guiding hand on the run chase.

Hosein, Joseph and debuting spinners Kevin Sinclair and Yannic Carriah turned the tide of the New Zealand innings with accurate bowling in the middle overs on a pitch which rewarded spinners with bounce.

New Zealand made a solid start with a 41-run partnership between Martin Guptill and Finn Allen, who struck two sixes and a four from Holder’s bowling in the seventh over.

A short rain break followed at the end of the 8th over and Allen was out for 25 four balls after the resumption. From then on New Zealand lost wickets regularly and struggled to build the partnerships that were necessary to reach a more challenging total.

Allen was Hosein’s first wicket, caught by Pooran who had to run back and hold onto the ball as it came across his shoulder.

Guptill fell in Hosein’s next over, caught by Kyle Mayers at slip for 24 when New Zealand was 53 for two.

Captain Kane Williamson attempted to lead a New Zealand recovery with an innings of 34 from 50 balls. But he lacked support: Devon Conway (4) Tom Latham (12) were out cheaply as New Zealand slumped to 88 for four.

Williamson’s partnership with Daryl Mitchell held promise and the pair had added 28 for the fifth wicket before both were out to Joseph in the 30th over.

Mitchell had made 20 from 32 balls when he was trapped lbw and Williamson followed in the same manner.

Allrounders Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner added 40 for the seventh wicket but weren’t able to tip the match back in New Zealand’s favour. Bracewell was out for 31 from 33 balls, trapped lbw to give Carriah his first wicket in one-day internationals. The Trinidadian wrist spinner finished with one for 49 from nine overs.

The New Zealand lower-order often comes to the rescue of the team but on this occasion there was no fightback. Santner was out for 25 with the total 189 for eight and the last two wickets fell quickly.

“Obviously it was challenging out there to get some rhythm and some momentum,” Williamson said. “Credit to the way the West Indies bowled. They got a lot out of that surface and executed their plans well and ultimately played a very good game of cricket.”

The second game will be played Friday at the same venue.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

The government said that the Cayman Islands has achieved an important milestone in efforts to rebuild stayover tourism arrivals.

The milestone, according to an airlift capacity report created by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Research Unit, is that there was an increase of 1,253 seats in the fourth quarter of this year, representing a 1 per cent increase in capacity over Q4 2019, and is a positive indication of tourism restoration moving towards 2023.

Commenting on seat capacity increase, Minister for Tourism and Transport, Kenneth Bryan, said:

The airlift capacity report is a welcome indication of recovery as we look ahead to the 2022 – 2023 season.

The PACT Government’s easing of the travel regulations has unlocked pent-up demand. However, we cannot become complacent. Our focus is to drive growth from the markets where it will have the most positive impact. While we celebrate a net increase in available seats for Q4 2022, we must also continue to strive for opportunities to increase the number of flights, operating airlines and gateway cities.

Based on the information reported by the government, the net growth in seats is driven in part by:

Increased American Airlines connections through Charlotte and Miami,Southwest’s strong feeder markets in Texas,United’s growth in Washington D.C. and NewarkA new non-stop route from Baltimore-Washington.

However, many secondary markets with less frequent service, such as Philadelphia and Boston are pacing behind 2019 capacities, while historical stalwart Delta is still in a rebuilding phase with its connections through Atlanta.

The report also shows signs of longer-term growth in Q1 2023: with Dallas and Houston showing Year over Year growth of 5 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.

Cayman Airways is one of the destination’s most important advantages in mitigating any loss in capacity from U.S. carriers and can serve as a silver bullet for market development. The national flag carrier’s new non-stop route to Los Angeles accounts for 1,280 seats in Q4 2022 and could have a disproportionate positive impact in growing arrivals from southern California, through increased awareness and focused marketing and sales activity.

Speaking about the work the team at the Department of Tourism is doing, Mrs. Rosa Harris, Director of that department said:

Airlift is the oxygen of our islands’ tourism industry, and our global team has been working hard, engaging with the airlines to restore routes and seats.

A spirit of teamwork between the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Airways, Cayman Border Control, the Cayman Islands Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority, coupled with cooperation with the private sector is the key to our success.

As we continue to collaborate in rebuilding our stayover arrivals and welcoming visitors back to our beautiful shores, further increasing the Cayman Islands’ airlift remains a top priority.

In Q1 2023, seats from New York are reported as trailing Q1 2019 by 8 per cent. The tri-state area has traditionally been the leading source market when temperatures are coldest and demand and accommodations rates, and subsequently tax revenue and on-island visitor spending, are highest.

“Year-over-year growth from the New York market is always a priority, added Mrs Harris. “Instilling confidence amongst the airlines and sharing booking pace and demand indicators as contextual data in partnership with our accommodations sector will help the Cayman Islands extend our momentum.”

Visitors are encouraged to visit the following web page to familiarize themselves with the current COVID-related travel entry requirements for visiting the Cayman Islands: https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us/travel-requirements.

(Source: CIG)

NewsAmericasNow.com