Rain limited play to just over an hour and a half but visiting Jamaica were still able to tighten their grip on the game, restricting to the Leeward Islands to 62 for two in their second innings at stumps after a Jamaica overnight declaration that left them trailing by a hefty 191 runs on first innings.
Torrential rain on Saturday night and a persistent drizzles drenched Warner Park but the outfield’s excellent drainage kept hopes up throughout the day for some play, the action eventually starting at 4:10 local time.
When umpires Lennox Abraham and Rob Bailey announced plans for the 4:10 start, Jamaica immediately announced a declaration at their overnight score, which was revised from 378 for eight to 379 for eight. Carlton Baugh’s score is now 57 not out instead of 56.
After losing the first two sessions to rain, Jamaica began aggressively and pounced immediately, ripping out the openers, both without scoring, in the first two overs.
Kieran Powell was superbly caught at third slip – off the third ball of the innings — by Nikita Miller, a two-handed effort tumbling to his left off pacer Daren Powell.
Dave Bernard then removed Montcin Hodge, caught by Xavier Marshall when the ball glanced off the inside edge onto the pad and popped to Marshall at forward short leg as the score dipped to four for two.
The pressure on the home side mounted when Tonito Willett (5) retired hurt after being struck in the groin area by a delivery from Bernard with the score on 18 for two.
But captain Steve Liburd joined the in form Runako Morton for an unbroken 44-run partnership, the pair taking the Leewards safely to stumps without further trouble, bad light stopping play at 5:45 pm.
Morton, who scored 30 and 89 in the Leewards’ draw against Barbados last week and top-scored with 60 in the first innings here, is 42 not out and Liburd is on 14.
The Leewards, who handed Jamaica one of only two defeats during their 2009 title-winning campaign, trail by 129 runs entering today’s last day.
Hopes for any play had grown dim in the early afternoon.
Umpires Lennox Abraham and Rob Bailey had decided – after the weather had temporarily cleared after lunch — on a 1:40 pm start, but a heavy shower just after 1:30 pm thwarted efforts to start play.
Winners of their opening game at home last week against the Windward Islands to grab an early championship lead, Jamaica are poised – even without an outright victory today — to maintain their top of the table position as joint leaders Combined Campuses and Colleges surrendered first innings honours to Barbados in another rain-hit match that saw no play in Nevis yesterday.
Scoreboard
LEEWARDS 1st Innings 188 (Runako Morton 60; David Bernard Jr 4-38) JAMAICA 1st Innings (overnight 379 for 8)
X Marshall c Morton b Tonge 13
S Findlay c Martin b Baker 11
D Pagon c & b Baker 67
D Powell b Baker 15
*T Lambert c Liburd b Martin 58
D Nash c Powell b Baker 15
W Hinds c Powell b Tonge 70
D Bernard c Liburd b Tonge 39
+C Baugh not out 57
N Miller not out 15
Extras (b1, lb6, nb12) 19
TOTAL (8 wkts, declared – 105 overs) 379
To bat: O Brown.
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-31, 3-67, 4-146, 5-180, 6-197, 7-284, 8-315.
Bowling: Baker 21-2-80-4, Tonge 21-3-95-3, Martin 30-10-76-1, Banks 12-1-37-0, Willett 11-0-54-0, Athanaze 10-3-30-0
LEEWARDS 2nd Innings
K Powell c Miller b Powell 0
M Hodge c Marshall b Bernard 0
R Morton not out 42
T Willett (retired hurt) 5
*S Liburd not out 14
Extras (lb1) 1
TOTAL (for 2 wkts – 21 overs) 62
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-4
To bat: O Banks, +D Thomas, G Tonge, J Athanaze, L Baker, A Martin
Bowling: Powell 5-1-11-1; Bernard 5-2-10-1; Brown 6-1-26-0; Miller 5-1-14-0
Toss: Leewards.
Position: Leewards trail by 129 runs with eight wickets standing
Umpires: L Abraham, R Bailey.
