BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Runako Morton celebrated his recall to the West Indies team with a sparkling century but it could not prevent Jamaica from completing a seven-wicket win over the Leeward Islands at Warner Park yesterday.
The right-hander carved out an attractive 108 on the same day he was named in a 15-man squad for next month’s one-day tour of Australia as the Leewards tumbled to 216 all out in their second innings on the final day of their second round WICB regional first class match.
Set 27 to win, Jamaica crashed spectacularly to eight for three before pulling themselves together and reaching their target, to post their second successive win of the tournament.
Starting the day at their overnight position of 66 for two, the Leewards’ fightback was led by Morton who struck 14 fours and a six in an innings that spanned 208 balls and 245 minutes.
He added a further 41 with captain Steve Liburd (28) to take their third wicket partnership to 103 before Liburd was lbw to leg-spinner Odean Brown’s googly at 107 for three.
Brown, who finished with six for 88, then bowled Tonito Willett for 14 as the batsman shouldered arms to another googly at 136 for four and Omari Banks (15) followed quickly afterward, caught on the cover boundary by Wavell Hinds off the same bowler at 162 for five.
Devon Thomas perished lbw to Brown five runs later and Morton finally fell when he prodded forward to a fast delivery from left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-38) and edged to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr, as the Leewards’ innings headed towards a swift end.
Jamaica’s simple run chase started disastrously when Xavier Marshall drove fast bowler Lionel Baker to mid-off off the final ball of the opening over, to fall without scoring at three for one.
Two runs later in the next over, Marshall’s opening partner Shawn Findlay gloved a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Thomas off pacer Gavin Tonge (2-12) and captain Tamar Lambert lasted just three balls before he played across a straight one from Tonge and was lbw without scoring.
Donovan Pagon (14 not out) and Brendan Nash (7 not out) then steadied in the innings and steered Jamaica to their target.
