Western Bureau:
After losing first innings points on Saturday, the Windward Island battled back bravely yesterday to register a close three-wicket win over Jamaica, on the third day of their 12th-round WICB regional four-day championship fixture at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium yesterday.
Resuming at eight runs for one wicket yesterday, Jamaica's batting fell prey to excellent bowling by the Windward Islands and they were dismissed for 108.
Bowling for the Windwards, Deighton Butler took three wickets for 11 runs, Kenroy Peters three for 38, Shane Shillingford three for 29 and Nelon Pascal one for 25.
Anxious moments
Set 114 to win, the Windward Island had to endure many anxious moments before edging to victory at 118 for seven wickets. Donwell Hector, who scored 43, was the top scorer, while Odean Brown grabbed four wickets for 44 runs and Brendan Nash two for 13.
"It is a plus for us to come here and beat Jamaica," said Rawle Lewis, captain of the Windward Islands. "Our plan was not to lose this game because we wanted to maintain our second place in the competition."
Despite losing, the Jamaicans are still on course to win the competition. In fact, should the Leeward Islands fail to beat the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in their game in St Kitts, Jamaica would celebrate winning the championship today with an unassailable 94 points.
Providing that Jamaica lose its next match, the Leewards are the only team that can overhaul Jamaica. However, they must win all their remaining matches.
Heading into today's fourth and final day of what appears a first innings match, the Leewards were 410-5, replying to the CCC's 519.
RAPID DECLINE
Starting yesterday morning at eight runs for one wicket with Danza Hyatt and nightwatchman Andrew Richardson at the crease, the Jamaica batting went into rapid decline and there was a steady procession to and from the pavilion.
In fact, in less than 40 minutes, the Jamaican innings was in total disarray with the wickets of Hyatt, Richardson, skipper Tamar Lambert and Wavell Hinds all falling cheaply, as the Windward Island bowlers unleashed non-stop pressure against faint-hearted batting.
Pascal started the slide when he bowled Hyatt for seven without any addition to the overnight total. Richardson followed shortly after for four, caught behind off Butler without scoring. Skipper Lambert went for five at 13 for four, trapped in front by Butler. It soon became 17 for five when Hinds was caught off Butler for four.
Brendan Nash and David Bernard temporarily halted the slide, adding 58 runs in a sixth-wicket partnership. However, the slide resumed when Nash went caught and bowled off Shane Shillingford for 13, making the score 75 for six.
Deep trouble
At lunch, the Jamaicans were looking down the barrel and in deep trouble at 80 for six with Bernard, who had survived two near misses, unbeaten on 45 and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh on two.
On the resumption, the Jamaican slide continued as after hitting Shillingford for a six, Baugh was caught behind off Peters for eight at 88 for seven. Bernard fell three runs later as after completing his 50, he was caught off Peters, making the score 91 for eight.
Bevon Brown (1) and Gavin Wallace (4) also fell cheaply as the Jamaican innings folded at 114 off 36.5 overs. Odean Brown was left not out on 11.
"Our batting was most disappointing, but the bowlers did quite well," said Jamaica's coach Junior Bennett. "Nonetheless, much credit should go to the Windward Island bowlers because they did quite well."
Draw imminent
AT PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Guyana, ahead of Trinidad & Tobago by 23 runs on first innings, were zero without loss in their second innings at the close of the third day of their 12th-round WICB regional four-day match yesterday.
Scores:
GUYANA 282 (Sewnarine Chattergoon 68, Steven Jacobs 54, Travis Dowlin 42, Christopher Barnwell 30, Assad Fudadin 22; Imran Khan 5-42, Navin Stewart 2-74) and 0-0.
T&T 259 (Daren Ganga 92, Adrian Barath 38, Sherwin Ganga 36, Darren Bravo 27; Veerasammy Permaul 4-54, Davindra Bishoo 3-48).
Morton on fire
AT CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: West Indies batsman Runako Morton belted a huge undefeated hundred (173) for the Leeward Islands which, replying to Combined Campuses & Colleges' first innings total of 519, reached 410 for five at the close of the third day of their 12th round WICB regional four-day match at Grove Park yesterday.
Scores:
COMBINED CAMPUSES & COLLEGES 519 (Omar Phillips 204, Floyd Reifer 92, Kyle Corbin 67, Chadwick Walton 50, Jamal Smith 21; Anthony Martin 3-122, Gavin Tonge 2-64, Wilden Cornwall 2-113).
LEEWARD ISLANDS 410-5 (Runako Morton 173 not out, Montcin Hodge 64, Codville Rogers 42, Kieran Powell 41, Tonito Willett 35; Anderson Sealy 3-119).