FALMOUTH, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica’s recent fickle weather upstaged a half-century from national captain Chris Gayle and steady spin bowling from Nikita Miller and Odean Brown to hand Windward Islands a five-wicket, upset victory when this year’s WICB Regional One-day competition opened yesterday.
Devon Smith was not out on 42 from 58 balls, as Windwards reached 85 for five in 20 overs, when rain interrupted their chase for a second time in their opening match at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.
Under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, the Windwards were ahead of the target of 75, much to the disappointment of the Jamaicans, following a typical collapse from their opponents triggered by Miller and Brown.
Left-arm spinner Miller ended with two wickets for eight runs from four overs, and Brown captured two for 10 from three overs.
The embattled Gayle had struck four fours and four sixes in 58 from 38 balls, after he retired early in his innings with a twisted ankle to lead Jamaica to 223 for five from their 50 overs, after they chose to bat. Tamar Lambert scored 38, Danza Hyatt made 36, Baugh got 24, and Marlon Samuels added 23 for Jamaica. Sammy was his side’s most successful bowler with two for 44 from nine overs. Smith and Johnson Charles started the Windwards’ chase confidently before the rain interrupted them with the total on 65 without loss in the 15th over.
Play did not resume until two hours later, with Windwards set a revised target of 113 from 25 overs, meaning they needed 48 more runs from 10 overs.
Typically, the Windwards got ahead of themselves, and their batsmen gifted their wickets to the Jamaican bowlers, and five tumbled for 19 in the space of 29 deliveries. Charles was lbw to Brown for 20 playing across, and Sammy was caught behind off Miller for one cutting nine balls later.
Craig Emmanuel was then stumped off Miller for a first-ball duck charging down the pitch next ball, Donwell Hector was bowled by Brown for a two-ball duck, and Andre Fletcher was run out for four by Marlon Samuels’ direct hit from third man at the striker’s end.
Windwards crashed from 66 without loss to 85 for five by which time the weather changed again, and interrupted for a second time.
The umpires inspected the conditions when the weather cleared, but ruled it was not suitable for play to continue.
Jamaica face Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow at Sabina Park in their second match, at the same time that the Windwards meet CCC.
