Jamaica moved to within sight of victory over the Leeward Islands at Sabina Park yesterday in the opening round of the regional Busta Cup cricket tournament.
After dominating the first two days of the four-day contest, Jamaica, paced by a solid innings from night watchman Shane Ford, a sparkling display by Chris Gayle, a lovely opening burst by bowler Dwight Mais, and a timely strike by pacer Laurie Williams tightened their grip on the third day and appeared heading for a successful start in their hunt for the title.
At stumps, the scoreboard read, Leeward Islands 146 and 166 for six, Jamaica 391, and with the defending champions needing another 79 runs to stave off an innings defeat, with all of today's final day to come, the odds are heavily in favour of a comfortable victory for the home team.
The day, however, did not belong entirely to Jamaica whose bowlers were put to the sword during a lovely counter-attack by Dave Joseph, who struck one six and 10 fours while scoring 79, and Runako Morton, who smashed one six and stroked five fours while scoring 45.
Coming together with their team on the run at 27 for three in the 10th over, Dave Joseph, who batted for 147 minutes and faced 106 deliveries, and Morton, who timed the ball beautifully, blasted a fourth-wicket partnership of 95 in 27 overs before, with 18 overs to go to the close of play, Williams removed Morton to leave Jamaica well on the way.
Resuming on 298 for five with Gayle on seven, Ford on three, and already in the lead by 156 runs, Jamaica strengthened their position with Ford presenting a broad, defensive bat to the testing pace of Carl Tuckett, Kenneth Benjamin and Whitmore Quinn, and Gayle hooking and driving to the delight of the fans as they carried their overnight partnership of 10 to 57 before Gayle mis-hit offspinner Anthony Lake and was caught at mid-on by Wilden Cornwall for 41 at 345 for six after batting for 109 minutes, facing 71 deliveries and reeling off six boundaries.
With Ford, who joined the action a few minutes before the close of play on Saturday's second day, playing solidly but quietly, the teenaged Gayle played a few glorious strokes which hinted of the quality which has many touting him as West Indies batsman of the future.
Dropped at eight at 309 when a nasty kicker from Benjamin bounced off his gloves to Sylvester Joseph at forward short-leg, Gayle countered bravely with two lovely hooks - one all along the ground to square-leg and one high to midwicket, and when Quinn replaced Tuckett in the following over, the tall left-hander greeted him with a drive through the covers and a hook to backward square-leg.
The shot of his innings, however, came in the following over when he eased onto the backfoot and drove Benjamin to the extra-cover boundary.
Jamaica, through the carelessness of both batsmen, lost their seventh wicket at 358 and their eighth at 368 when Williams and then Nehemiah Perry were run out. Ford, after batting for 152 minutes and facing 98 deliveries, edged Benjamin to Morton at second slip at 377 for nine, and Brian Murphy, after two crisp drives, stroked a return catch to Lake to end the innings 27 minutes after lunch.
Faced with a deficit of 245 runs, the Leeward Islands ran into a furious Mais who sent them skidding to 19 for two in the seventh over.
Running in from the south, Mais rocked the Leeward Islands at zero for one when, with Alex Adams shouldering arms, he knocked the unprotected offstump with the fourth delivery of the innings. Cornwall, attempting to hook a delivery which climbed off a good length, was caught for 12 by Leon Garrick going back from forward short-leg as the ball lobbed off the shoulder of the bat.
Day 4: Jamaica complete big win
Final score: Leeward Islands 146 and 187, Jamaica 391.
Jamaica got off to a winning start in the regional four-day Busta Cup cricket tournament when they defeated defending champions Leeward Islands by a decisive innings and 58 runs at Sabina Park yesterday.
Starting the final day with the Leeward Islands on 166 for six in their second innings and needing another 79 runs to make Jamaica bat again, the home team strolled to victory with ease by snapping up the last four wickets for 21 runs in 45 minutes and 11.5 overs - the first three falling for one run in 12 minutes and 3.1 overs.
Whatever hope the Leeward Islands had of delaying the outcome was destroyed by offspinner Nehemiah Perry who picked up the first two wickets in his first two overs to finish with three for 61 off 26 overs and following his impressive seven for 49 off 27.3 in the first innings, match figures of 10 for 110 off 53.3 overs.
Perry handed Jamaica their first wicket with the first delivery of the day when he tempted Jason Williams, three overnight, to cut at a bouncing offspinner and wicketkeeper Shane Ford held onto the catch on the second attempt. The second came with the last ball of his second over when Carl Tuckett, 17 overnight, played forward and was caught by Leon Garrick at forward short-leg for 17 at 167 for three.
With the first ball of the following over, fast bowler Dwight Mais, who finished with three for 42 off 15 overs made it nine down for 167 when Anthony Lake clipped the newcomer low to Brian Murphy at backward square-leg.
Jamaica were held up somewhat by last pair Kenneth Benjamin and Whitmore Quinn who struck a few lusty blows before captain James Adams called in Murphy and, in his first over, the right-arm legspinner removed Quinn as the number 11 went for a drive which flew high to Mais at mid-off.