PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Seasoned campaigner Nikita Miller helped Jamaica Franchise’s tail wag and then returned to strike a key blow with the ball, to leave Trinidad and Tobago Red Force with a difficult task of winning their third round WICB Professional Cricket League game on today’s final day.
Chasing 239 for victory, T&T were 24 for one at the close, with Lendl Simmons on eight and nightwatchman Marlon Richards yet to score.
It was Miller who set back the hosts, having the dashing Lewis caught at short-leg by Shacaya Thomas, in the penultimate over of the day at Queen’s Park Oval.
As usual, Lewis was shaping up nicely, having faced 27 balls and struck boundary. His dismissal at 23 for one was a major blow to the hosts who were heading towards the close without losing a wicket.
They require a further 215 runs for their second straight win of the new tournament.
Earlier, Jamaica were dismissed for 196, after resuming on 92 for four, on a rain-hit third day.
They seemed headed for much less when the slumped to 159 for nine but Miller intervened with a crucial knock of 40 that allowed Jamaica to pick up precious runs at the end.
He faced 95 balls, occupying the crease for 1-3/4 hours while striking two fours, adding 37 for the last wicket with Sheldon Cottrell who scored 12.
More importantly, the partnership frustrated Red Force, eating up precious time on yesterday’s penultimate day.
His innings was required after Jamaica lost two key wickets before rain forced an early lunch at 108 for six. Captain Tamar Lambert, on 20 overnight, added just one before falling lbw in the morning’s second over to his opposite number, seamer Rayad Emrit (2-39), with the score on 95 for five.
Veteran campaigner David Bernard Jr lasted just over half-hour and scored seven before having his defence breached by leg-spinner Imran Khan.
When Carlton Baugh drove pacer Marlon Richards for Yannick Ottley to snare a low catch at cover, Jamaica were stumbling further at 119 for seven.
But Miller and Damian Jacobs, who hit an equally important 29 in nearly two hours at the crease, put on 25 for the eighth wicket to get the lead up to near the 200-run mark.
Jacobs got a leading edge and was caught and bowled by debutant fast bowler Daniel St Clair (3-38) and Marquino Mindley followed for five, taken at point by Simmons off spinner Akeal Hosein (2-18).
However, any thoughts of a quick end to the innings were quickly dashed as Miller staged a defiant rearguard action.
Scoreboard
JAMAICA 1st Innings 173
T&T 1st Innings 131
JAMAICA 2nd Innings
(overnight 92 for four)
J Campbell lbw b Emrit 1
S Thomas b St Clair 46
N Bonner run out 2
A McCarthy lbw b St Clair 21
*T Lambert lbw b Emrit 21
D Jacobs c and b St Clair 29
D Bernard Jr b Imran Khan 7
+C Baugh Jr c Ottley b Richards 1
N Miller lbw b Hosein 40
M Mindley c Simmons b Hosein 5
S Cottrell not out 12
Extras (b1, lb6, nb4) 11
TOTAL (all out, 73.5 overs) 196
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-24, 3-65, 4-80, 5-93, 6-108, 7-119, 8-144, 9-159, 10-196.
Bowling: Richards 9-1-25-1, Imran Khan 23-4-67-1, Emrit 16-7-39-2, St Clair 10-3-38-3, Hosein 14.5-7-18-2, Mohammed 1-0-2-0.
T&T 2nd Innings (To win: 239)
L Simmons not out 8
E Lewis c Thomas b Miller 10
M Richards not out 0
Extras (b4, lb1, nb1) 6
TOTAL (1 wkt, 11 overs) 24
Fall of wicket: 1-23
Bowling: Cottrell 3-2-7-0, Mindley 1-0-6-0, Miller 4-2-5-1, Jacobs 3-2-1-0.
Position: T&T require a further 215 runs for victory.
Toss: Jamaica.
Umpires: D Ramdhanie, N Duguid.
