Jamaica’s opening batsman John Campbell rubbed more salt into the wounds of the Windward Islands by carving out an impressive century after being dropped on 14 by Terron Smith at the Demerara Cricket Club yesterday.
The left hander ended the first day of the final round of the WICB Three-day tournament on 145 (11×4, 9×6) from 183 balls. However, this was not before Jamaica had routed the defending champions for a paltry 99 from 28.4 overs. The ominous looking Campbell, coupled with the fruitful partnerships he shared in, left his team comfortably perched on 215-2 from 59 overs and a lead of 116.
Left arm spinner Larry Edward was the only bowler with any success, grabbing 2-50 from 18 overs.
Campbell got support from Brian Gayle (18*)and Oshane Walter (17) which ultimately underscored the allround performance of the Jamaicans after Fabian Allen had metronomic figures of 4-22 from his nine overs of spin. Fast bowler Marquino Mindley and spinner Donavan Nelson also contributed with the ball, capturing 2-10 (6) and 2-29 (7.4) respectively.
Jamaica’s batsmen did what the Windward Islands players seemed incapable of doing: applying themselves. The Windward Islands’, the tournament’s defending champions, woeful batting display on a placid DCC pitch was a throwback to their poor batting exhibition throughout the tournament, save for their rain-affected third round match when they made over 300 runs.
Three of their batsmen reached double figures and the 18 extras added a semblance of respectability to the total, if there was any. Wicketkeeper/batsman Sunil Ambris’ knock of 29 was decorated with three fours and two sixes but he would find no ally in his teammates, except an undefeated 12 down the order from Ray Jordan; opener Jerlani Robinson had the other significant score of 19.
Conversely, the young Jamaicans, who led the table with 28.5 points coming into this round, were enterprising in their approach. Openers Campbell and a scratchy Walters (17) got the team off to a solid start with a stand of 64.
Campbell asserted himself on the bowlers, driving right arm pacer Bronte Bess exquisitely through the covers and left arm pacer Preston Mc Sween down the ground for a pair of boundaries. Left arm spinner Edwards, one of the leading wicket takers in the tournament, would break the partnership shortly after his introduction by trapping Walters lbw.
Campbell and Senior (20) then pushed the score to 120 before Edwards struck again. However, by then Campbell was in full flight, hitting his fourth six to carry him into the 90s.
He eased his way to 99 before he exploded by dispatching Edward over long on for six to bring up his first century at this level. That landmark was dotted with 10 fours and five sixes. Shortly after that he went after Edward again, slog sweeping him for a big six over midwicket then driving him uppishly through extra cover for four in the 46th over.
Campbell, in the next over, lost the third ball of the innings when he dispatched left arm spinner Kavem Hodge for six over wide long on and then followed up with a pull over square leg. The left hander’s next 36 runs would come off a mere 16 balls, which included four sixes.
Gayle, after settling in, also looked dangerous. He stroked the ball with authority in the face of the Windwards bowlers who started to look lethargic. The two batsmen survived confident shouts and compensated by dispatching all bad deliveries before the day closed at 17:07 hours.
