Jamaica collapse to give Leewards opening

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

Seasoned batsman John Campbell stroked 92, but Jamaica suffered a wretched batting collapse to let Leeward Islands back into their third-round TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge match yesterday.

Jamaica seemed en route to an imposing total at 178 for two after lunch on the second day of the contest at the Beausejour Stadium, before losing their last eight wickets for 68 runs to crash to a disappointing 246 all out.

Leewards grabbed the opportunity to hit back and closed at 98 for two, a lead of eight runs going into today's final day.

Resuming the day strongly positioned at 94 for one in response to the Leewards' first innings of 156, Jamaica were propelled by a steady partnership between Campbell and Paul Palmer.

With Campbell batting soundly, Palmer grabbed the opportunity to stroke 63 as they extended their partnership to 155 for the second wicket, taking Jamaica to lunch at 163 for one.

Double blow

Captain Adelvin Phillip (2-43) then struck a double blow, removing both Palmer and Campbell in the space of five runs to spark the collapse.

While Brian Gayle was run out for six at 193 for four, Vaneil Bromfield was caught behind 10 runs later off Shane Burton who finished with two for 36.

Tevin Osbourne then ran through the lower order to finish with three for 51.

In Leewards' second turn at the crease, Darren Benta went without scoring to fast bowler Nicholson Gordon with the score on one, but Akeem Saunders (27 not out), Jamal Fernandez (26 not out) and Burton (24) steadied the innings.

Saunders and Fernandez have already posted a handsome, unbroken 62-run stand for the third wicket.

AT GROS ISLET: Guyanese right-arm leg-spinner Amir Khan grabbed a hat-trick in a spectacular eight-wicket haul and then frustrated the Windward Islands with resilient batting to give his team a glimmer of hope in their match.

Slumping

Khan captured eight for 70 to send the Windwards slumping from their promising overnight position of 179 for five to 190 all out, as they lost their last five wickets for 11 runs on the second day at the Gros Islet Playing Field.

He finished off the Windwards innings with a hat-trick before returning to score 41 in a last-wicket stand of 78 with Keon Joseph who made 26 in Guyana's second innings of 226.

The effort was a huge improvement on their lame first-innings total of 51 on the opening day, Friday.

Set 88 to complete an outright win, the Windwards finished on 39 for two, still 49 runs adrift of their target.

AT DENNERY: Trinidad and Tobago, trailing on first innings by 35 runs, were eight without loss at the close against Barbados at the Dennery Playing Field.Scores: T&T 235 (Nicholas Alexis 80, Kieron Joseph 56; Jomel Warrican 3-63, Roston Chase 2-39) and eight without loss.

Barbados 270 (Clint St Hill 96, Justin Greaves 49, Shai Hope 25, Jomel Warrican 22; Kissoondath Magram 4-71, Yannick Cariah 3-59, Sachin Boodram 3-63).