The Leeward Islands got off to a bad start in their opening game against Jamaica in the KFC Cup Competition at the Providence Stadium, yesterday. Winning the toss and electing to bat before another disappointing crowd, the Leewards suffered an early setback when Shane Jeffers, who had opened the batting with Javia Liburd, was bowled by Windies’ speedster, Darren Powell, without scoring. Jeffers’s dismissal let in skipper Runako Morton, who saw Liburd go via the run-out route for 13.
Morton was joined by the talented Tonito Willett, who was denied the opportunity to exhibit his talent when he was bowled by Jerome Taylor for nought. The lanky, off-spinning all-rounder Omari Banks then teamed up with skipper Morton and they set about repairing the early damage. Morton eventually fell for a responsible 44 off 69 balls with five fours. Banks was however unfazed by the loss of his skipper and continued scoring freely until he went for 62, caught wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh off the right arm leggie Donovan Sinclair. His knock included five fours and came off 107 balls.
Steven Liburd made a fighting 25 with two fours off 40 balls but his dismissal, caught by Danza Hyatt off left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, marked the end of any further resistance as none of the other batsmen reached double figures. The innings folded at 167 in 44.3 overs.
Jamaica opened their innings with the left-right combination of Gayle and Brentnol Parchment. The pair started cautiously, with the usually explosive Gayle looking uncharacteristically subdued, but one could sense him straining at the leash to get after the Leewards bowlers. The fifty partnership came in 44 mins off 10.1 overs, but with the score on 52, Gayle went for 33, [seven fours, 31 balls], caught by Lionel Baker, off off-spinner Chaka Hodge.
Shawn Findlay then teamed up with Parchment and together they saw the 100 up in 102 minutes off 22.2 overs. After the two had put on 66 for the third wicket, Parchment was caught by Liburd off bat and pad at first slip for 40, made off 70 balls with four fours. Hyatt joined Findlay who was next to go, spectacularly caught in the covers by a diving Shane Jeffers off a full-blooded cover drive. He had made 41 off 53 balls with five fours and one six, and the bowler was Banks.
Newcomer Brendan Nash was next man in; the left hander hung around for a while, but never suggested permanence and he eventually nibbled at a pacy delivery from fast- medium Baker to be taken by wicket-keeper Joel Simmons for six.
Tamar Lambert then teamed up with Hyatt and together they put the issue beyond doubt with sensible batting, Jamaica ending at 169 -4 off 39.5 overs to win by four wickets.
Banks was named man of the match for his top score of 62 and his 2-46.