Jamaica close to second win

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

Jamaica stood on the brink of their second victory for the season, despite Shane Jeffers' second first-class hundred, and a Leeward Islands second innings fight-back in the WICB regional first-class championship yesterday.

Dave Bernard Jr snared four wickets for 26 runs from nine overs to leave Leeward Islands, following on 199 behind on first innings, on 132 for five in their second innings at the close on the third day of their fourth round match at Warner Park.

The Jamaicans were extended in the final session by a resolute, unbeaten 59 from Tonito Willett and 25 from Jahmar Hamilton.

This followed a workman-like 118 from Jeffers that anchored Leewards to 305, replying to Jamaica's first innings total of 504 for five declared.

Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert, twirling his uncomplicated off spin, was his side's most successful bowler with four wickets for 70 runs from 29.4 overs, Bernard finished with three for 39 from 13 overs, and leg-spinner Odean Brown took two for 114 from 32 overs.

Bernard then triggered a Leewards top-order collapse, when he had Jeffers caught in the slips for a duck offering a tired-looking drive at a delivery outside the off-stump in the second over, and Shane Burton caught at gully for four, as the Leewards reached 21 for three at tea.

Bowling his steady medium-fast stuff, Bernard then added the scalp of Gavin Williams lbw for a duck before he had Leewards captain Steve Liburd caught behind for 16 to leave the home team 34 for four.

Earlier, Jeffers cracked 20 fours from 241 balls in his 338-minute stay at the crease to help the Leewards add some respectability to their first innings total.

The powerful left-hander, who was brought in to the side following a hand injury to Kieran Powell, and Montcin Hodge's omission, shared one significant stand during his innings.

He added 50 for the fourth wicket with Liburd before departing in the first over after Leewards resumed from their lunch total of 240 for six.

No other Leewards batsman passed 20 on the day, as Lambert and Brown ran through the lower order, after Bernard had removed Liburd and Willett cheaply before lunch.

Leewards stand at the foot of the eight-team ladder on three points, following their second defeat this season, when the Combined Campuses & Colleges crushed them by 158 runs in the previous round on home soil at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Jamaica have the same 24 points as the CCC and the England Lions at the top of the table, but they entered this round effectively third, under the tie-breaker rules for the competition, after they settled for first innings points in a draw with Barbados last time out.