Campbell leads the way

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

An unbeaten half-century from John Campbell led a strong Jamaica reply against Leeward Islands on the opening day of the third round match in the TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge yesterday.

The aggressive left-handed Campbell slammed a typically aggressive 51 to guide Jamaica to 94 for one at the close, in response to the Leewards' disappointing 156 all out at the Beausejour Stadium.

Campbell, who played for the West Indies Under-19 team during the ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand this year, has added an unbroken 76 for the second wicket with Paul Palmer, who was not out on 24.

The stand was needed after Peat Salmon fell cheaply for 11 with the score on 18, to give the Windwards an early look in.

Earlier, Raheem Cornwall top-scored with 48 to rescue the Leewards, who slipped to 45 for three, after winning the toss and batting first.

Akeem Saunders hit 26 and Haydn Walsh 25, to give support, but leg-spinner Donovan Nelson captured five for 42 to wreck the innings.

Pacer Brian Gayle finished with two for seven.

AT GROS ISLET: Penetrative bowling and decisive batting have left Windward Islands in a strong position to push for a victory against tournament-leaders Guyana.Sent in to bat by the Windwards, Guyana were routed for 51 in the first over after lunch, and by stumps the Windwards had reached 179 for five, a commanding lead of 128 on first innings with five wickets still standing.

Playing at the Gros Islet Playing Field, the right-handed opener Denis Smith spanked 93 to give the Windwards innings a lively start.

He stroked 13 fours and two sixes off 105 balls in 188 minutes and shared an opening stand of 113 with Atticus Browne who hit a patient 41.

Rudolph Paul was unbeaten on 21 at the close, while right-arm leg spinner Amir Khan has so far bagged four for 65 for Guyana.

Dramatic end

Earlier, the Windwards took wickets at regular intervals, with the experienced Kavem Hodge ending with three wickets for no runs with his left-arm spin, to bring a dramatic end to the Guyana innings.

At one stage, the Guyanese were floundering on 17 for seven, but number-eight batsman Andre Stoll hit some lusty blows in a knock of 29 to push them past 50. He was the first of Hodge's victims, all of whom were mesmerised and bowled.

Opening bowler Bronte Bess found pace and movement to capture two for four off his six allowed overs, while his fellow St Lucian Kurt Edward had two for 14 from four overs.

AT DENNERY: Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican's six-wicket haul led a Barbados fightback after half-centuries from openers Nicholas Alexis and Kieron Joseph threatened to put Trinidad and Tobago in total control of their match.

Warrican captured six for 85 as T&T, winning the toss and batting, were dismissed for 235 at the Dennery Playing Field on the opening day of the crucial contest.

At the close, Barbados lost two valuable wickets to end the day on 40 for two, still 195 runs adrift of first innings lead.

Alexis and Joseph mounted a powerful opening stand of 128, which pushed Barbados against the ropes early and gave T&T control of the match in the first session.

While Alexis stroked 12 fours and a six in a splendid 80, Joseph cracked six fours in spending nearly two hours over 56.

However, Barbados got a key breakthrough five minutes before lunch, when off-spinner Roston Chase (2-39) claimed Joseph, caught and bowled, to capture the first of his two wickets.

On resumption, Chase prised out the dangerous Alexis, sweeping to Warrican at backward square, a dismissal at 142 for two that sparked a middle-order slide.

Warrican then sliced through the T&T batting, starting his damage by picking up Yannick Cariah for seven, caught at cover by Kraigg Brathwaite at 161 for three.

Only Yannick Ottley with an unbeaten 31 showed any further resistance as eight wickets then tumbled for 74 runs.