Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

A man-of-the-match performance of 99 from Danza Hyatt carried Jamaica to a 57-run win over the Leeward Islands at Sabina Park as action continued in the West Indies Cricket Board Super50 tournament.

The powerfully built right-hander, who recently returned from the lucrative Bangladesh Premier League, hit nine fours and four sixes off 135 balls, as Jamaica, sent in to bat, posted 253 for four off their allowed overs.

The Leewards, in response, were then restricted to 196 off 44.4 overs with fast bowler Andrew Richardson claiming three for 23, and the in-form Nikita Miller bagging three for 30.

"The victory was a good one as though we made a pretty decent total, the Leewards made a match of it, which kept us on Ps and Qs," said Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert.

"But we knew what it takes to come out on top and thanks to another fine bowling performance from Richardson and Miller, we were able to get the job done."

In addition to Hyatt, Jamaica got good knocks from young batsman Andre McCarthy who compiled 59, and Lambert who stoked a classy 77.

Sublime batting skills

McCarthy, who is fast establishing himself in the middle order, came out with Jamaica struggling at 10 for two, and like he did against the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the second round, helped the team to stage a steady recovery.

He put on 92 with Hyatt for the third wicket, which laid the foundation for Lambert to showcase his sublime batting skills.

Caressing the ball to various sections of the ground, Lambert stroked seven well-timed fours, and two straight sixes.

The morning, however, arguably belonged to Hyatt, who after an uncertain start, settled in, only to fall short of what would have been his second regional 50 overs century.

He needed two runs off the last ball to reach the landmark, however after hitting the ball to mid-on, he failed to make it back in time.

The Leewards, meanwhile, had returning captain Sylvester Joseph to thank for making the game interesting.

Joseph slammed 83, including six elegantly big sixes and four fours.

Unfortunately, however, he had little support, and with Richardson showing aggression and Miller, accuracy, the home team wrapped up what turned out to be their fourth win in as many matches.

"It's a tough match to lose as with me at the wicket, I always felt we had a chance," said Joseph.

"But it is one of those games. I think there is a lot of positives we can take from this game, and hopefully, we can use them over the weekend."

The teams will again meet in Four Day tournament action starting today at the same venue.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA

Extras (b1, lb2, w10, nb0) 13

Total ( 4 wkts, 50 overs) 253

Did not bat: D Bernard Jr., +C Baugh, Y Elliott, N Miller, A Richardson, O Brown.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10, 3-102, 4-253.

Bowling: Tonge 10-0-52-1, Walters 10-2-46-1, Martin 10-0-47-0, Willett 10-0-60-0, Athanaze 10-0-45-0.

LEEWARDS

M. Hodge c Miller b Richardson 8

L. Richardson b Elliott 19

S. Joseph b Miller 83

A. Saunders lbw b Elliott 6

Extras (lb4, w5) 9

Total (10 wkts, 44.4 overs) 196

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-35, 3-47, 4-95, 5-117, 6-164, 7-181, 8-187, 9-190, 10-196.

Bowling: Richardson 7.4-1-23-3, Bernard 4-0-15-0, Miller 8-1-30-3, Elliott 8-1-49-2, Brown 10-1-38-2, Lambert 7-0-37-0.

Result: Jamaica won by 57 runs.

Points: Jamaica 4; Leeward Islands 0.

Toss: Leewards.

Player-of-the-Match: Dana Hyatt.

Umpires: D Ramdhanie, C Taylor.