INNSWOOD, Jamaica, CMC – Brendan Nash stroked 44 not out to lead hosts Jamaica to a predictable six-wicket victory over the Windward Islands in the WICB regional first-class competition yesterday.
Chasing 98 for victory, the Jamaicans reached their target about 35 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval on the fourth and final day of the first round match at Chedwin Park, when Nash turned a delivery from Liam Sebastien into the leg-side for a single.
“This is a positive way to start for us, and we want to continue in this vein for the rest of the season,” Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert said.
He added: “I thought the bowling of Nikita Miller, when he got seven wickets on the first day, put us in the driver’s seat, and then Wavell Hinds’ batting helped to give us a big lead. Those two big performances set the stage for us.”
The result gave the defending champions 12 points.
Jamaica face Leeward Islands in the second round of the competition, starting on Friday at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
Windwards have drawn a bye for the second round before tackling Combined Campuses & Colleges in the third round, starting on Friday, January 22, at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados.
Their captain and West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy was disappointed with the way his side played throughout the match.
He said: “We still had a few positives coming from the game, highlighted by the batting from our former captain Rawl Lewis. He got two half-centuries, and he also bowled well. It’s good to see the former captain still has something to contribute to our side.
“All credit to Jamaica for the way they started the season. But we have to go back to the drawing board, and see where we can improve. One area for sure is our batting. Many of us need to apply ourselves much more when we are at the crease.”
Starting the day needing a further 78 runs to win with eight wickets standing, Jamaica stumbled early, after they resumed on 20 for two.
Opener Xavier Marshall was bowled for 10 with the last ball of the morning’s third over, playing back to a leg-break from Lewis, and Lambert was lbw to off-spinner Shane Shillingford to leave the home team on 58 for four.
Nash and Hinds then guided the Jamaicans safely to their target.
Lewis finished with two wickets for 21 runs from 11 overs.
SCOREBOARD
WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings 181
JAMAICA 1st Innings 335
WINDWARD ISLANDS 2nd Innings 251
JAMAICA 2nd Innings (target: 98 runs)
(overnight 20 for two)
B. Parchment c Fletcher b Pascal 0
X. Marshall b Lewis 10
D. Pagan c Pascal b Lewis 8
T. Lambert lbw b Shillingford 15
B. Nash not out 44
W. Hinds not out 14
Extras (b2, lb2, nb3) 7
TOTAL (4 wkts, 35.4 overs) 98
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-20, 3-21, 4-58
Bowling: Pascal 6-2-21-1 (nb1); Peters 4-0-12-0; Lewis 11-0-27-2 (nb1); Shillingford 10-1-23-1 (nb1); Sebastien 4.4-2-11-0
Result: Jamaica won by six wickets
Points: Jamaica 12, Windwards zero
Umpires: V. Bullen, C. Mack