KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC — Leaders Leeward Islands were facing a daunting task in order to win their final round three-day game of the Regional Under-19 Championship, after another impressive batting showing by Jamaica on the second day here yesterday.
Set 316 for victory at Stubbs, the Leewards finished the day on seven without loss, still requiring a further 309 for victory on Saturday’s final day.
For the second straight day, however, Jamaica dominated proceedings, dismissing the Leewards for 178 in their first innings after they resumed on 138 for four.
Jaeel Clark top-scored with 37 after failing to add to his overnight score as the Leewards lost their last six wickets for just 40 runs.
Left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal, who started the day with four wickets, finished with five for 60 while off-spinner Michael Frew picked up three for 73.
In their second turn at the crease, Jamaica piled up 243 for six before declaring for the second time in two days, with Dominik Samuels hitting an unbeaten 62 and Jordane Hill and Michael Frew both getting 52. Wandering at 63 for three, they were lifted by a 46-run fourth wicket stand between Samuels and Hills, while Samuels and Hill added 83 for the fifth wicket.
Samuels has so far faced 173 balls and struck two fours while Hill, the opener, counted eight fours in a knock which came from 88 deliveries.
Frew’s knock was an attacking one, coming off 73 ball and included two fours and three sixes.
At Arnos Vale, second placed Barbados were put under pressure after falling meekly in their first innings and then watching as Windward Islands produced a strong second innings performance to carve out a handy lead.
Resuming the day on 32 for two in response to the Windwards’ first innings of 198, Barbados folded for a disappointing 152, with Dominic Drakes top-scoring with 59 off 84 balls with four fours and four sixes.
Tottering on 108 for eight, Drakes arrived at number eight to rally the innings in a 32-run, ninth wicket stand with Jarion Hoyte (2).
Fast bowler Darron Nedd (3-19) and left-arm spinner Rasheed Fredericks (3-40) combined to wreck the Barbados innings. With a lead of 46 runs on first innings, the Windwards were then propelled by half-centuries from Emmanuel Stewart (76 not out) and Alick Athanaze (76) as they reached 170 for three — an overall lead of 216 runs. They were stumbling at 17 for two before the pair put on 143 for the third wicket to prop up the innings.
Stewart has so far faced 141 deliveries in 201 minutes and struck five fours and two sixes while Athanaze lasted ten fours and two sixes of 93 balls.
In the other game at Sion Hill, Guyana were battling to avoid an innings defeat after being forced to follow on by Trinidad and Tobago.
Resuming from their overnight 289 for nine, T&T were bowled out for 296 and quickly bundled out Guyana for a paltry 85, with off-spinner Jonathan Bootan claiming seven for 23.
Ronaldo Renee, who top-scored with 20, put on 30 for the first wicket with Joshua Persaid (17) before 10 wickets tumbled for 52 runs in a dramatic collapse.
In their second turn at the wicket, Guyana thrived as Bhaskar Yadram carved out an unbeaten 67, to leave his side 109 runs away from making T&T bat again.
