Jamaica formalise easy victory

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

Dave Bernard Jr completed a memorable spell of bowling to help usher Jamaica to a 10-wicket victory and condemn Leeward Islands to their third loss in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day first-class cricket championship yesterday.

Bernard ended with five wickets for 40 runs from 16 overs and earned the Man-of-the-Match award, as Leewards were dismissed for 209 in their second innings about 15 minutes before the lunch interval on the final day of their fourth-round match at Warner Park.

Danza Hyatt then formalised the result for Jamaica - needing 13 to win - when he struck Tonito Willett for the last of his three boundaries about five minutes after the interval.

Victory

This venue has been a happy hunting ground for the Jamaicans in the last three season. They also beat the Leewards two years ago and last year at this venue.

The victory earned Jamaica the full 12 points and increased their tally to 36, with the Leewards ending empty-handed to remain on just three points.

Jamaica plunged Leewards into deeper trouble within the first 10 minutes of play, as the home team lost the overnight pair of Jahmar Hamilton and Tonito Willett without addition to the overnight total of 132 for five.

Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert, twirling his uncomplicated off-spin, held a return catch to dismiss Hamilton for 26 and Willett was run out by Brendan Nash's direct hit for the top score of 60. He batted justover two hours, faced 112 balls and struck seven fours and one six.

The Jamaicans continued to tighten the screws and Bernard struck when Gavin Tonge drove to him to mid-off and was caught for three to lead the Leewards 143 for eight.

But the visitors discovered there was some sting in the Leewards' tail, when Lionel Baker joined Jacques Taylor and confidently put on 40 for the ninth wicket.

Lambert soon turned to his champion leg-spinner, Odean Brown, and he obliged with the breakthrough, having Baker caught at long-off; and then wrapped up the innings about 20 minutes, when he bowled Anthony Martin for six to finish with three for 67 from 26.1 overs

The championship takes a break next weekend, but resumes on March 11, when Jamaica host Combined Campuses & Colleges at Chedwin Park and Leewards travel to face Trinidad & Tobago at the National Cricket Centre.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA 1st Innings 504 for five declared

LEEWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings 305

LEEWARD ISLANDS 2nd Innings (following on)

(overnight 132 for five)

S. Jeffers c Jackson b Bernard 0D. Tuitt lbw b O. Brown 17S. Burton c Samuels b Bernard 4G. Williams lbw b Bernard 0S. Liburd c wkpr Walton b Bernard 16T. Willett run out (Nash) 60+J. Hamilton c and bLambert 26J. Taylor not out 47G. Tonge c O. Brown b Bernard 3L. Baker c Hyatt b O. Brown 14A. Martin b O. Brown 6Extras (b8, lb2, nb6) 16TOTAL (all out, 67.1 overs) 209

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-8, 3-13, 4-34, 5-66, 6-132, 7-132, 8-143, 9-183

Bowling: Dawes 6-2-27-0 (nb2); Bernard 16-5-40-5 (nb4); O. Brown 26.1-8-67-3;Lambert 17-5-51-1; Nash 2-0-14-0

JAMAICA 2nd Innings (target: 11)

D. Hyatt not out 13S. Jackson not out 0TOTAL (without loss, 3.3 overs) 13

Bowling: Baker 2-1-5-0; Willett 1.3-0-8-0

Result: Jamaica won by 10 wickets

Points: Jamaica 12, Leewards 0

Man of the Match: D. Bernard Jr

Umpires: W. Mitchum, P. Nero

Matchreferee: V. Burnes

Reserve umpire: S. Texeira.