By Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
Jamaica's wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jnr. runs down the pitch to celebrate after stumping Leeward Islands batsman Chaka Hodge (left) off the bowling of Odean Brown (out of picture) in fourth day action in their Carib Beer Series cricket match at Alpart yesterday. Looking on is Jamaica's Keith Hibbert. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
JAMAICA ENDED the preliminary round of the Carib Beer Cricket Series in style at Alpart yesterday with a comprehensive victory over the Leeward Islands.
Led by right-arm legspinner Odean Brown and fast bowler Andrew Richardson, Jamaica routed the Leeward Islands for 144 to win by a commanding 260 runs 17 minutes before lunch on the fourth and final day.
Score, Jamaica 200 and 394 for three declared, the Leeward Islands 190 and 144.
Brown, who started the day with three wickets in his first five overs, finished with the impressive figures of four for 44 off 14.2 overs while Richardson took four for six in eight fiery overs to finish with four for 23 off 13.
In winning the match, Jamaica finished in the runner-up spot on 52 points - 32 behind Cup winners Barbados, four ahead of third-placed Windward Islands, and will host the Windward Islands in the semi-finals of the International Challenge Trophy at Alpart starting on Thursday.
Although the odds were against victory for the Leeward Islands, who started the innings chasing a target of 405 runs and the day in search of 329, the expectation was that the visitors would force Jamaica to fight for victory.
This assumption was based on several reasons - the total 76 for one when play resumed, with Wilden Cornwall, 42, and captain Sylvester Joseph, 20, batting well, with the pitch still in fairly good condition and with the likes of Carl Tuckett, Tonito Willett and Ridley Jacobs to come.
However, with Brown flighting the ball well and spinning it appreciably on the dry, worn pitch and Richardson bowling fast and straight and on a good length, though play started 17 minutes early it was all over in 119 minutes with nine wickets tumbling for 68 runs in 25.2 overs in the morning's sunshine.
Jacobs, 22 not out off 32 deliveries in 74 minutes, offered the only resistance after Brown had picked off both overnight batsmen in his first four overs.
Bowling the second over of the morning after Cornwall and Joseph had stroked seven runs off pacer Daren Powell and after Cornwall had smashed his first delivery to the mid-wicket boundary, Brown handed Jamaica their first wicket when Cornwall, going forward defensively to a well flighted, well pitched delivery, was leg before for 49 at 87 for two.
Joseph, who drove Powell to boundary and looked as good as the previous afternoon, presented Brown with wicket number two when he was beaten through the air and an attempted ondrive ended up in Donovan Pagon's hands at mid-on.
CATCH AT SILLY POINT
That was 106 for three and when Tuckett, playing tentatively forward to Brown nicked the ball onto his pad and Keith Hibbert took the catch at silly point, it was 106 for four and the writing on the wall.
The only question then was how long and with Richardson replacing Powell and striking right away, it was obvious that Jacobs or no Jacobs it would not be too long.
Richardson made it 118 for five and 126 for six when the left-handed Ian Tittle, probably in desperation, attempted to swing a good delivery to mid-wicket, missed and was leg before wicket; and when Willett, going back and across, was beaten for pace and edged the ball onto his stumps.
With Jacobs standing firm but unable to help, the last four wickets, like the first five, fell one behind the other with Chaka Hodge going stumped by Carlton Baugh Jnr, off Brown; Gavin Tonge leg before wicket by a yorker from Richardson; Adam Sanford bowled by Richardson; and Dane Weston run out when Baugh collected a good throw from Hibbert.
The Man of the Match was acting captain Christopher Gayle for his magnificent 219 in Jamaica's second innings.
