CRICKET: Charlestown, Nevis: A brilliant defiant century by captain Jimmy Adams gave Jamaica a fighting chance against the Leeward Islands in their crucial President's Cup cricket match at Grove Park yesterday. At the close of the third day, Jamaica, who trailed on first innings by 164 runs, were 317 for eight, 153 runs ahead with two wickets in hand. Adams, who lost his place in the West Indies team during the Cable and Wireless Test series, recorded his second century - 112 - in a week, following his unbeaten 108 against Guyana. He stood rock solid against the Leewards pace and spin attack.
Adams featured in three vital partnerships - 128 with ex-West Indies A team left-hander Tony Powell (62) for the sixth wicket, 62 with Gareth Breese (24) for the seventh, and 51 with Andre Coley (29) for the fifth. The Jamaica skipper pushed a single to mid-off to reach his century in 290 minutes, off 205 balls sprinkled with 14 fours.
He added another 12 runs including a crisp square-cut for four before he edged a catch to the wicketkeeper off pacer Kenneth Benjamin, to be eighth out at 301. His innings lasted 317 minutes and he faced 239 balls.
From an overnight team score of 54 for three, Adams and Powell batted resolutely to frustrate the Leeward Islands' march towards victory. The Jamaicans had slipped into trouble when two wickets in successive deliveries sent them to 95 for five before lunch.
Lanky off-spinner Anthony Lake bowled the left-handed Coley with a straight ball to end the stubborn stand with Adams and he struck again with his next delivery when Robert Samuels lobbed a return catch to him. But Powell averted the hat trick and gave Adams admirable support. The two neutralised spinners Warrington Phillip and Lake and attacked the fast bowlers with the new ball, while a hamstring injury to new West Indies one-day player Carl Tuckett reduced captain Stuart Wiliams' options.
Powell, who was dropped on 37 by Alex Adams at forward short-leg off Lake with the score on 171 for five, profited from the chance as he attacked the bowlers, hammering Phillip for a six and a four through mid-wicket and cutting Lake for successive boundaries.
He reached his half century in grand style by hooking pacer Kenneth Benjamin for six and then pulled for four before Benjamin gained revenge two overs later by trapping him leg before for a fine 62 off 132 balls with two sixes and eight fours.
The more sedate Adams greeted the second new ball by off-driving Benjamin through the covers for a lovely four to reach tea unbeaten on 80
Rain during the tea break forced a stoppage of a hour and a half and nearing the end of play, allrounder Laurie Williams (15) and Brian Murphy (4) held up the Leewards, adding 16 so far for the ninth wicket. Philip has so far taken three for 97, Lake two for 57 and Benjamin two for 85.