Barbados have once again stamped their authority on regional youth cricket, successfully defending their title at the 2025 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-15 Championship. The tournament, held in Antigua, saw the Barbadian side deliver a commanding performance throughout, culminating in a decisive victory over Guyana in what was effectively the championship decider.

In the final round at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Barbados won the toss and opted to bat first against a confident Guyana team. The Barbadian batsmen laid a solid foundation, with wicketkeeper Seth Smith top-scoring with 47 runs from 75 balls and captain Justin Parris contributing a brisk 38 off 40 deliveries. Their efforts helped Barbados post a competitive total of 209 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs.

Guyana’s bowlers, led by Reyaz Latif who claimed 3 for 31, fought valiantly, while Brandon Henry and Usain Fredericks took two wickets each. However, the Guyanese batsmen struggled to build meaningful partnerships in response. Despite a fighting half-century from Brandon Henry, who scored 50 off 88 balls, Guyana was bowled out for 160 in 45.3 overs. Asher Branford was the pick of the Barbadian bowlers with figures of 3 for 19, while Justin Parris chipped in with two wickets.

With this 49-run victory, Barbados completed the tournament unbeaten, finishing with five wins from as many matches and securing the championship with 27.4 points. Trinidad and Tobago claimed second place with 19.4 points, while Guyana finished third on 18.6 points after a campaign that included three wins and two losses.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Jamaica finished fourth, the Windward Islands fifth, and the Leeward Islands rounded out the standings. The championship once again showcased the depth of young cricketing talent across the Caribbean, with Barbados emerging as the standout team and Guyana showing promise for the future despite falling short in the final hurdle.