Jamaica's middle order batsman Wavell Hinds playing on the legside during his innings of 75 on yesterday's second day of the West Indies Cricket Board's Four-day Championship match against Barbados at Kensington Park. The wicketkeeper is Patrick Brown.- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Jamaica yesterday secured pole position in their top-of the-table WICB Four-day Champion-ship clash against Barbados at Kensington Park, when chasing Barbados' first innings total of 293 they were bowled out for 314 in what was an exciting and eventful run chase.
Steering down a defeat on first innings with the score on 269-9, after out-of-favour West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds (75) and wicketkeeper batsman Keith Hibbert (25) had rescued the team from a precarious position of 143-5 with a timely 92-run sixth wicket stand, Jamaica were steered to a first innings lead by off-spinner Bevon Brown (30 not out) and fast bowler Andrew Richardson (12) who, in a last-gasp effort, added 45 runs for the last wicket.
The 29-year-old Brown, who on day one proved to be a challenge for Barbados' batsmen with his tight, nagging off spin, batted with confidence and authority, while Richardson, cheered on by the partisan crowd, showed that he can hold his own with the bat, as Barbados succumbed to the pressure.
delight
The all-important runs to win first innings were scored by Brown. With the score on 290-9 he cut left-arm pacer Pedro Collins (2-22) close to the boundary for three to bring the scores level, and with the team needing a run, he pushed left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds (2-49) to short mid-wicket, much to the joy and delight of the crowd, who cheered and whistled.
"The team was in a bind so I decided to put my hand up, and along with Richie we were able to pull it off," said a pleased Brown, who is nicknamed 'Lion', and at the end of the Jamaican innings was cheered off the field.
Earlier Hinds, who has been out of the regional cricket for a while due to county cricket engagements in England, showed that he still had the batting touch with a well-played knock, which included 10 fours, a few of which were classic drives, while Hibbert, who was selected ahead of Carlton Baugh Jr, all but justified the confidence placed in him by the selectors with a patient partnership-building innings.
"It was a good knock, I really enjoyed it, and to know that along with Keith Hibbert, we were able to lead a middle-order revival makes it even more fun. I hope that we can now build on this and pressure for an outright win," said Hinds.
Medium pacer Kevin Stoute (3-56) took most wickets for Barbados, while there were two- and one-wicket hauls for Dwayne Smith (2-50) and Tino Best (1-40).
"We expected a tough fight from the Jamaicans and they showed resolve," said Barbados captain Jason Haynes. "We made a number of breakthroughs but in the end could not pull it off. We just have to refocus and try to bat the entire day and into a position were we can't lose," he added.
AT CAVE HILL: The Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) trailing by 96 runs on first innings, reached five without loss in their second innings.
Scores: CCC 227 (Floyd Reifer 92, Nekoli Parris 54; Deighton Butler 3-21, Kevin James 2-9, Liam Sebastien 2-34, Shane Shillingford 2-73) and five without loss. Windward Islands 323 (Andre Fletcher 69, Johnson Charles 55, Miles Bascombe 49; Ryan Austin 32-12-108-5).
AT GROVE PARK: The Leeward Islands, trailing Guyana by four runs on first innings, reached 63 for one in their second innings.
Scores: Leewards 225 (Omari Banks 65, Montcin Hodge 43; Veerasammy Permaul 4-42, Davindra Bishoo 3-34) and 63-1 (Montcin Hodge 36 not out).Guyana 229 (Travis Dowlin 61, Chris Barnwell 40; Anthony Martin 4-39, Tonito Willett 4-54).
Barbados 1st Innings 293
Jamaica 1st Innings
(31 without loss overnight)
B. Parchment lbw b Stoute 47
D. Hyatt c Haynes b Smith 34
D. Pagon c wkp Browne b Stoute 6
T. Lambert c Carter b Stoute 5
W. Hinds b Hinds 75
D. Bernard c wkp Browne b Collins 18
+K. Hibbert c wkp Browne b Best 25
N. Miller c Charles (sub) b Hinds 19
O. Brown c wkp Browne b Collins 1
B. Brown not out 30
A. Richardson c Boucher b Smith 12
Extras (b12, lb4, nb26) 42
Total (all out, 94 overs) 314
Fall of wickets: 1-74, 2-88, 3-102, 4-102, 5-143, 6-235, 7-262, 8-264, 9-269, 10-314.
Bowling: Collins 25-5-72-2, Best 8-0-40-1, Yearwood 5-1-27-0, Smith 22.2-8-50-2, Stoute 11-2-56-3, Hinds 21-4-49-2, Carter 2-0-4-0.
Position: Jamaica led Barbados by 21 runs on first innings.
Toss: Barbados.
Umpires: Melvin Noble, Terrence Birbal.