BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-THE third day of competition between Jamaica and the Leeward Islands was a soggy affair yesterday (Jan. 17) at Warner Park after Jamaica was forced to declare their first innings overnight.
Having reached 379/8 on the second day of play, Jamaica was in a good position to win by an innings after Leeward Islands ended their first chance in the crease at 188/all out.
Heavy rains overnight and scattered showers throughout the morning, however, forced Jamaica to declare early with a 191-run lead as they hoped to bowl over their opponents in the damp conditions.
Play eventually began late in the day with the clouds still gloomy overhead. The ominous start for the Leewards’ second innings was accentuated when opening batsman Kieran Powell was dismissed once again in the first over, leaving him scoreless in both innings.
Powell, facing an aggressive delivery from Jamaica’s Daren Powell, was caught out on a diving grab by Nikita Miller and the bad news continued to roll for the Leeward Islands minutes later when Montcin Hodge was similarly caught out by Xavier Marshall while facing David Bernard.
Runako Morton, however, continued to bat well for the Leeward Islands as he frustrated the hurried attack and drove the ball through the gaps to reach 42 not out from 69 balls with 4 fours.
Morton ended the day’s 21 brief overs teamed with Captain Steve Liburd, who added 14 runs after Tonito Willet was forced to retire due to a hard strike from one of Bernard’s lengthy deliveries.
Jamaica will resume play today (Jan. 18) under much better weather conditions in hopes of blowing through the Leewards batting order and earning the victory on innings, while Leewards is likely to play it safe and force a draw.
Elsewhere, yesterday’s rain proved nonnegotiable in Nevis where the third day of play between Barbados and the Combined Campuses & Colleges squad was a washout. Barbados currently leads after first innings, having reached 301/all out following CCC’s 213-run effort.
Play between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago in Antigua was much less wet, but just as slippery for T&T who held a substantial 143-run lead after first innings only to watch their batsman collapse against Guyana’s Narsingh Deonarine, who picked up three wickets and left T&T teetering at 147/7 at the close of play.
The final day of second round play in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional 4-Day Competition commences this morning at 10 a.m.
