By Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterJAMAICA NEEDED only 69.2 overs on yesterday's second day of the TCL group West Indies Under-19 three-day match against the Rest of the Americas to secure victory in their tournament opener at the Jamalco Sports Club in Clarendon.
The Jamie Trenchfield-led side registered a comprehensive innings and 163-run win. After declaring on their overnight score of 381-6, Jamaica skittled out the regional minnows for a paltry 111 in the first innings before knocking them over for a second time for a mere 107.
"We needed to a positive start (to the three-day tournament) and we got it," Jamaica's coach Junior Bennett said after the game.
However, while stating he was happy about the all-round performance of his team, Bennett said there was still the need for his middle order to get among the runs.
When Jamaica batted, Openers Xavier Marshall (188) and Yannick Elliott (60) were the only batsmen to get past 50. Trenchfield and Wayne Morgan (31 each) both got starts and did not carry on.
"Our middle order just needs to come good now. From the practice matches coming up the openers have been getting the runs and I am looking forward to seeing them (middle order) get some runs," Bennett said.
Yesterday, the Jamaican pace duo of Denva Passley and Roy Williams ripped the top off the Americas' batting, setting them up for what eventually became a no-contest bout.
FOUR FOR TWO
Passley, who ended with match figures of 4-35 from 13 overs, first removed Daniel Morris for one before Williams (match figures of 2-31 from 11 overs) accounted for Jasjet Mangat (0) both caught by wicketkeeper Jeffrey Scott leaving the Americas reeling at four for two. This laid the platform from which legspinner Alton Beckford launched his attack, taking three Americas' scalps for 14 in their first innings.
His spinning partner Elliott (match figures of 4-22 off 9.5 overs) picked up two first innings wickets, including that of Karum Jetti who he had stumped by Scott for 50.
Facing a second innings deficit of 270 after Trenchfield enforced the follow-on just after lunch, the Americas needed either a masterful innings or intervention from the elements but neither came. Williams peppered Morris with a series of short deliveries before getting him caught in the gully by Zennieffe Fowler immediately after hitting him on the helmet. This triggered the slide as Passley had Rahman caught behind before uprooting first innings half century maker, Karmu Jetti's off stump for eight. Jetti's dismissal signalled the end for the Americas as even though Sahan Anjaria (33) and Mangat (30) made a gallant attempt to save face, the side was simply outplayed.
