Jamaica hold advantage

CRAB HILL: Jamaica were well placed yesterday to reverse last year’s result and beat Barbados in the final of the Carib Beer International Shield cricket final at the North Stars Club. After building a first innings lead of 116, Jamaica reduced Barbados to 149 for five in their second innings with two days left in the four-day match. Jamaica ended Thursday’s first day on 135-2 in reply to Barbados’ meagre 142, but the Jamaican batsmen did not take advantage of the platform, adding just 95 before Barbados took their last eight wickets. Jamaica suffered an early setback yesterday when captain Chris Gayle, the West Indies Test left-handed opening batsman, was out leg before wicket to left-arm swing bowler Pedro Collins after adding 19 to his overnight 57. He misjudged a ball that came back into him, attempted no shot and was leg before wicket.

After that, Jamaica lost wickets steadily to Collins, Ian Bradshaw, another left-arm swing bowler, Corey Collymore and Tino Best. Keith Hibbert batted solidly for 32. But Collins, with four for 56, carried his tally of wickets in the competition to 42 to restrict the lead. Bradshaw took three for 58. Barbados had an immediate second-innings setback when opener Kirk Wilkinson was leg before wicket to Andrew Richardson for six. Contrasting innings of 32 from the hard-hitting left-handed opener Martin Nurse and 49 from the solid Sherwin Campbell threatened to loosen Jamaica’s grip but both were out when they seemed well set. Left-hander Ryan Hinds followed for 25 and, in the closing overs, Test batsman Dwayne Smith attempted several big shots, falling to a catch to wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh from a big drive at Darren Powell.

Left-hander Floyd Reifer, 18 at yesterday’s close, and captain Courtney Browne, who is still to bat, carry Barbados’ slim hopes of a revival on the third day. Barbados, winners of both Carib Beer Cup and International Shield last season, retained the Cup earlier in an eight-team round-robin tournament from which the top four teams advanced to the Shield playoffs. Barbados defeated Guyana in one semi-final and Jamaica beat the Windward Islands in the other.