PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

Tournament leaders Jamaica and Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) were locked in a gripping battle for outright victory in the WICB regional first-class championship on Sunday.

Jamaica, overnight 37 for two, were toppled for 164 in their second innings to leave CCC a tricky victory target of 206 after three days of their absorbing, day/night, fifth-round match at the Albion Sports Complex.

CCC reached the close on 115 for four, still 91 runs away with six wickets standing.

Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert claimed three for 18 from 16 miserly overs, but his opposite number Floyd Reifer remained not out on 25 to boost CCC's chances.

Earlier, Kavesh Kantasingh (four for 53) sliced through the Jamaica top order in spite of a second half-century in the match from Donovan Pagon (52).

Three for 16

Leg-spinner Gavin Wallace added three late scalps for 16, as Jamaica failed to fully capitalise on a first-innings lead of 41.

Pacer Kevin McClean gave CCC a bright start to the day, when he removed Andrew Richardson (9) in the day's second over. The nightwatchman slashed to first slip, where Reifer held a fine two-handed catch over his head.

Kantasingh removed Lambert (23) and Nkrumah Bonner (8) as the Jamaicans slipped to 116 for five.

Lambert stretched forward but was ruled lbw, while Bonner completed a miserable debut, when he edged low to Reifer at slip.

The collapse was completed after lunch as Kantasingh claimed Carlton Baugh Jr lbw, and Pagon was undone by a direct-hit run-out by substitute Romel Currency.

Pagon, who top-scored with 80 in the first innings, struck six fours off 101 balls.

Wallace cleaned up the tail as Bevon Brown missed a full toss to be lbw, David Bernard edged to slip, and Odean Brown lobbed a return catch off the leading edge.

CCC's openers Omar Phillips and Jamal Smith produced a solid platform for the pursuit in adding 62 either side of tea.

But Lambert turned the match on its head with three wickets in successive overs as the CCC added just three runs.

Left-handers Reifer and Kjorn Ottley slowly shifted the balance in a fourth-wicket stand of 50.But just as they were blossoming towards the close, Odean Brown removed Ottley to another catch by Baugh to even the contest.