Jamaica ticked off their first victory in the 1998 Red Stripe Bowl limited-over cricket tournament when they defeated the United States at Chedwin Park yesterday.
In winning the match by eight wickets with 30.1 overs to spare, Jamaica not only handed the newcomers their second defeat in two matches following their 242-run loss to defending champions Leeward Islands on Tuesday's opening day, but they also did so, as expected, in style.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Jamaica, thanks to two quick wickets by Franklyn Rose, who finished with three for 17 off 6.1 overs, and the gift of a careless run out, cornered the US early, knocked them away easily, and then, with Robert Samuels, 47, and Raymond Ferguson, 27, setting the pace with a first-wicket partnership of 60, cruised to victory.
Bowling from the south, Rose, in his second over, sent Dave Wallace packing for zero - caught by Tony Powell at second slip at four for one, and made it eight for two in his third when he bowled Wayne Headley.
Four overs later, it was 14 for three when captain Richard Staple played Rose into the covers, non-striker Rohan Alexander started for a quick single, was sent back and failed to beat Wavel Hinds' throw.
The US, through Staple, who played a few elegant strokes, and Desmond Richards rallied to 44 for three before Richards, going back to a delivery which drifted in with the arm, was trapped leg before wicket for 14 by left-arm spinner James Adams and Staple, beating a hasty retreat after driving offspinner Nehemiah Perry to Adams, was run out for 24 at 56 for five.
It was 65 for six when Christopher Gayle, in his first appearance for Jamaica, bowled Garfield Wildman for nine in his second over; and it was 73 for seven when Ferguson, also in his first appearance, had Zamin Amin caught by Gayle at short third man for one.
Dave Hoilett, who hit Gayle for a huge six over midwicket, scored 29 before he was last man out, bowled by Rose.
Set a target of just more than two runs an over, Jamaica eased to victory with Ferguson stroking three fours and smashing one six before he drove at pacer Nazam Hafiz and was caught by Staple at extra-cover, Samuels looking in good form and stroking seven boundaries before he sliced a full toss from Hafiz to Richard Louis at point to make it 85 for two in the 16th over, and Gayle scoring 22 not out in what, despite the quality of the opposition, was an impressive performance.