BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Lanky pacer Christopher Powell grabbed a five-wicket haul as defending champion Jamaica put the choke on Barbados on the first day of the third series of matches in the Regional Under-19 three-day Championship here yesterday.
Powell snared five for 22 to dismantle a strong Barbados batting line-up and send the hosts tumbling for a meagre 106, after winning the toss and opting to bowl first at the Police Sports Complex.
At the close, Jamaica were in a spot of bother on 62 for four but just 44 runs adrift of first innings lead.
After the start of play was delayed by 45 minutes due to a damp pitch, Barbados were off to a poor start when Shayne edged a catch behind off Powell for five with the score on 13.
In the seventh over, Barbados slipped further into crisis when Craig St. Hill was run out at the non-striker’s end by Powell and off the next delivery, captain Shai Hope was caught down the leg-side by wicketkeer Aldaine Thomas for a fifth-ball “duck”. It was a rare failure for Hope who came into the match with two centuries in the first two games.
Barbados struggled to lunch at 30 for three and afterward with six runs added, Jameel Stuart was bowled through the gate for 15 by Powell who switched to the northern end.
A double strike by the 17-year-old Powell then left Barbados in disarray at 48 for six.
With three runs added, Kemar Brathwaite was caught at first slip by Brandon King for six prodding forward and Aaron Jones was trapped lbw.
After slipping to 48 for seven, Darnell Greenidge and Akeem Jordan put on a crucial 50 for the eighth wicket with Greenidge making 23 and Jordan, 24.
Greenidge batted for 107 minutes and hit one boundary, while Jordan’s knock spanned 97 minutes off 83 balls.
In their turn at the crease, Jamaica were in early trouble when they lost both openers cheaply. Oshane Walters was caught at the wicket cutting at a rising ball from fast-bowler Jordan and his partner Odaine McCatty gloved a lifting delivery to short-leg off medium pacer Marlon Welcome-Goodman.
Tristan Coleman struck 25 from 50 balls including two fours and the only six of the day over long-off spinner Chad Williams before being brilliantly caught low down by the same player at short backward square off a sweep from debutant off-spinner Neil Persaud.
Persaud also prised out Tezwayne Creary for two to end with two for seven.
