KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Nikita Miller wrecked Barbados’ batting for the second time in as many days to lead four-time defending champions Jamaica to a 120-run victory inside three days in the Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday.
The left-arm spinner finished the impressive figures of five wickets for 24 runs from 17.5 overs, as Barbados, chasing 293 for victory, were dismissed for 172 in their second innings about 25 minutes before the scheduled close at Sabina Park.
Miller finished with the flattering match figures of 10 for 49, making him the undisputed choice for the Man-of-the-Match award.
Left-hander Jonathan Carter led the spineless Barbadian batting with 64 from 73 balls that included eight fours and two sixes, featuring in a 47-run stand for the eighth wicket – the best of the innings – with Kemar Roach.
Leg-spinner Odean Brown brought the match to a close however, when he had Roach caught at mid-off for a resolute 26.
The result meant that Jamaica completed their second straight victory of the tournament, following an 81-run triumph over Windward Islands in the opening round at the same venue.
They have a maximum 24 points.
Barbados, playing their first match of the season, after they drew a bye in the first round, finished with no points.
Jamaica, starting the day on 78 for four in their second innings, had been bowled out for 162 about 10 minutes before lunch.
Their captain Tamar Lambert hit his second half-century of the match, top-scoring with 61, and dominated a vital last-wicket stand of 34 with Sheldon Cotterrell to put the match virtually out of reach of the Barbadians.
Roach claimed three of the six Jamaican wickets that fell, finishing with five for 31 from 19 overs.
Three wickets for nine in the space of 45 deliveries had Barbados rocking on 35 for three and they never fully recovered.
Cotterrell struck twice early, when he had West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite caught at third man for 15 from a cut and Ryan Hinds dubiously lbw for a duck.
In between, Dave Bernard Jr had left-hander Omar Phillips, the former Combined Campuses & Colleges captain and opener, dubiously caught behind for eight.
Carter joined Barbados captain Kirk Edwards, the West Indies batsman, and they got the visitors moving again before Miller delivered his first blow.
Miller bowled Edwards for 22, as Barbados reached 81 for four at tea, and the slide continued after the break, when the Barbadians sunk to 99 for seven.
Kenroy Williams was lbw to Miller for two, Shane Dowrich was caught at mid-off off Miller for three, and left-hander Sulieman Benn was bowled sweeping at a flatter, faster ball from Miller for six.
Roach joined Carter, whose 50 came from 58 balls, and they brought some respectability to the Barbados batting with their stand.
But Brown had Carter caught at long-on – before there was token resistance from Roach, Tino Best and Fidel Edwards towards the end.
Cotterell finished with two for 35 off 12 overs and Brown captured two for 39 off eight overs.
Earlier, Jamaica also wobbled, when they lost five wickets – three to Roach – for 13 in the space of 51 deliveries in the morning session.
They slumped to 128 for nine, after night-watchman Richardson was bowled off stump for 17 by fast bowler Roach, Benn removed Bernard for one caught behind and Baugh for a first-ball duck in the same fashion.
Roach trapped Miller lbw for a duck and Brown fell in a similar manner to the same bowler off the very next ball before Lambert and Cotterrell extended Jamaica’s advantage.
Jamaica face strugglers Leeward Islands, starting on Thursday at Sabina Park in the third round, when Barbados host arch-rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Kensington Oval.
Scoreboard
JAMAICA 1st Innings 287
BARBADOS 1st Innings 157
JAMAICA 2nd Innings
(overnight 78 for four)
S. Jackson c wkpr Dowrich b Roach 22
D. Hyatt c wkpr Dowrich b Roach 28
D. Pagon lbw b Hinds 5
B. Nash c Hinds b Benn 7
*T. Lambert c Best b Benn 61
A. Richardson b Roach 17
D. Bernard c wkpr Dowrich b Benn 1
+C. Baugh c wkpr Dowrich b Benn 0
N. Miller lbw b Roach 0
O. Brown lbw b Roach 0
S. Cotterrell not out 0
Extras (b6, lb3, w3, nb9) 21
TOTAL (all out, 58.2 overs) 162
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-58, 3-70, 4-78, 5-115, 6-116, 7-118, 8-128, 9-128
Bowling: F Edwards 6-2-15-0, Best 7-0-47-0, Roach 19-8-31-5, Benn 19.2-6-32-4, Hinds 7-1-28-1
BARBADOS 2nd Innings (target: 293)
K. Brathwaite c Pagon b Cotterrell 15
O. Phillips c wkpr Baugh b Bernard 8
*K. Edwards b Miller 22
R. Hinds lbw b Cotterrell 0
J. Carter c Bernard b Brown 64
K. Williams lbw b Miller 2
+S. Dowrich c Cotterrell b Miller 3
S. Benn b Miller 6
K. Roach c Richardson b Miller 26
T. Best c Hyatt b Brown 0
F. Edwards not out 9
Extras (b2, lb8, w2, nb5) 17
TOTAL (all out, 51.5 overs) 172
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-30, 3-35, 4-69, 5-81, 6-85, 7-99, 8-146, 9-150
Bowling: Richardson 7-0-38-0, Cotterrell 12-2-35-2, Bernard 7-2-26-1, Miller 17.5-10-24-5, Brown 8-1-39-2
Result: Jamaica won by 120 runs
Points: Jamaica 12, Barbados 0
Man-of-the-Match: N. Miller (Jamaica)
Umpires: N. Duguid, V. Johnson
Matchreferee: M. Hylton
Reserve umpire: V. Smith
