Sun | Jul 19, 2026

Walton makes bold statement

Published:Monday | January 31, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Chadwick Walton bats during the third day of the Jamaica Cricket Association's senior team four-day trial match at Kensington Park yesterday. Walton scored 78 runs. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Chadwick Walton demonstrated that he is all but ready to take over the gloves from Carlton Baugh Jr when he hit a patient 78 in Tamar Lambert XI's total of 344, on yesterday's third day of the third and final trial match to select Jamaica's team for next weekend's opening round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day Championship.

The typically aggressive Walton, while showing good application, hit seven fours and a six in his 150-ball innings that lasted two and a half hours.

Walton, who plays for Kingston Cricket Club in local domestic competitions and the Combined Campuses and Colleges in regional competitions, is one of four wicketkeepers currently on parade who are looking to replace Baugh Jr, who is presently with the West Indies team in preparation for next month's ICC Cricket World Cup.

Others include

The others are batsman and part-time wicketkeeper Horace Miller, St Catherine Cricket Club's Dean Morgan and Westmoreland Cricket Association's former national Under-19 standout, Maverick Perry.

Walton apart, the day also belonged to recently reappointed captain, Lambert, who added 29 to his overnight 53 to end on 82 and emerge as his team's leading scorer.

Lambert, who was overlooked as player and captain of Jamaica's team for the recently concluded Caribbean Twenty20 tournament, hit two sixes and seven fours during his 110-ball knock.

Comeback trail

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who is still on the comeback trail, took six for 51 to end as Bernard Jr XI's top wicket-taker.

Bernard Jr XI, batting a second time, reached 67 for two with Xavier Marshall, one of several players battling to claim the spot of Chris Gayle - who like Baugh Jr, Andre Russell and Nikita Miller are on West Indies duties - finishing on 42 not out.

Batting all-rounder and former West Indies Under-19 standout, Hanover Cricket Association's Jermaine Blackwood, who bowls part-time off spin, has so far claimed two for 16.

Play will resume today with the naming of the squad towards the end of the day expected to be one of the major highlights.

Jamaica, who have won the tournament in the past three seasons, will open their title defence against Guyana at Alpart Sports Club, St Elizabeth, beginning on Friday.