Rain ruins Jamaica-Windwards finale

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

Jamaica had to settle for a draw against Windward Islands in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day Tournament yesterday.

Persistent rain never allowed the players to get back on to the field at the Queen's Park Stadium, after the three-time defending champions, leading by 99 runs on first innings, limped to lunch on 53 for four in their second innings in the second-round match.

The weather constantly disrupted the contest and forced play on Saturday's second day to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The Jamaicans had to be satisfied with six points for gaining a first innings lead to move to 18 in the championship and the Windwards collected three points to increase their tally to seven.

Jamaica travel to Barbados, where they will face Ryan Hinds' team at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown in the third round, when the Windwards host Guyana at the Arnos Vale Multiplex in St Vincent.

Jamaica ran into early problems after they resumed at their overnight position of 27 for one.

Marlon Samuels, their most prolific batsman so far this season, was caught behind off left-arm, fast-medium bowler Kenroy Peters for the top score of 20.

The visitors sunk to 33 for three when West Indies left-hander Brendan Nash was caught at first slip off Mervin Matthew for four.

Simon Jackson and Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert defied the Windwards' attack and were minutes away from taking their side safely to lunch. But left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin struck when he had Jackson caught behind for 12 to give wicketkeeper Lyndon James the last of his three catches.

The weather did not relent after the interval and the promise of a thrilling finish was washed away.

STANDINGS: 1. England Lions 18 points, 2. Jamaica 18, 3. Trinidad & Tobago 18, 4. Combined Campuses & Colleges 12, 5. Guyana 7, 6. Windward Islands 7, 7. Barbados 6, 8. Leeward Islands 3.

Third round of matches: February 18 to 21 - Barbados vs Jamaica at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados; Leeward Islands vs Combined Campuses & Colleges at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, North Sound, Antigua; Windward Islands vs Guyana at the Arnos Vale Multiplex, Arnos Vale, St Vincent; Trinidad & Tobago vs England Lions at Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

JAMAICA 1st Innings 214

WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings 115

JAMAICA 2nd Innings

(overnight 27 for one)

D. Hyatt c wkpr James b Pascal 2S. Jackson c wkpr James b Mathurin 12M. Samuels c wkpr James b Peters 20B. Nash c Charles b Matthew 4T. Lambert not out 14W. Hinds not out 1TOTAL: (4 wkts, 20 overs) 53

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-28, 3-33, 4-50

Bowling: Pascal 5-2-14-1, Matthew 8-0-20-1, Peters 6-3-16-1, Mathurin 1-0-3-1

Result: Match drawn

Points: Jamaica 6, Windwards 3

Man of the Match: J. Taylor (Jamaica)

Umpires: L. Abrahams, C. Mack

Match referee: A. Griffith

Reserve umpire: K. Barrasingha.