Jamaica scramble one-day victory

GEORGETOWN: Jamaica kept their composure and defended a modest total to complete a tense, seven-run victory over Barbados in the West Indies limited-overs cricket championship at Uitvlugt yesterday. Jamaica, with their big-name line-up, once again failed to live up to expectations with the bat after they were given first strike. They capitulated for 165 in 49.5 overs that the Barbadians should have felt confident about overhauling. It did not work out exactly that way though. The Jamaicans knuckled down and Barbados broke under the pressure to be dismissed for 158 with 25 balls still in the bag. Barbados started with young left-hander Martin Nurse wanting to hit every delivery out of Guyana; he succeeded in hitting three sixes, two off successive balls from Evon McInnis in the eighth over to raise the 50 by which time the Barbadians had already lost two wickets.

At 68 for two, Nurse, who was caught off a McInnis no-ball when on 22, gave Chris Gayle a return catch and put pressure on the remaining batsmen, particularly Floyd Reifer, who badly twisted his right ankle while fielding. Nurse had gotten a rollicking 45 from 39 balls, but left the repair work for his captain Courtney Browne, who was next best with 37 and the others. Serious trouble began to brew at 82 for six with the Jamaicans tasting  blood.  Gayle (10-2-18-2) and Samuels (10-1-29-1) bowled flat and sharp, as they usually do, to nudge the advantage in their team’s favour, but Browne and Ian Bradshaw, who came together at 115 for seven, began to change things again. Browne and Bradshaw, the pair that took West Indies to an astounding win in the ICC Champions Trophy final last month, added 24 and were comfortably securing singles. The Barbados captain then tried to flick to leg from outside off stump, popped the ball to Jamaican captain Gareth Breese at cover and again the Jamaicans took the initiative.

A partnership of 18 between Bradshaw and Sulieman Benn had put Barbados back on course, but Bradshaw was needlessly run out for 15. Breese called a mid-pitch conference to determine who should bowl next and, after extended deliberations, he settled on Dwight Washington, who was playing his first game and who bowled very poorly in his only two overs before, costing 22 runs. With only eight runs needed for victory, Washington bounded in and was impeccable. He bowled the first four deliveries fast and perfectly into Corey Collymore’s block hole. Gayle then made what turned out to be an inspired match-winning move. Without consultation, he moved himself from first slip to short mid-wicket. The next delivery was no different from Washington and a nervous Collymore pushed forward picking out Gayle.

After taking the catch Gayle leapt in the air, flinging the ball wildly away, his teammates similarly joyous as they romped around. Another thrilling game ended with about 2,000 spectators pleased with their investment in tickets. Barbados still sits on top of the points standing with ten, but Jamaica’s victory means that semi-final spots are still wide open with only Leeward Islands struggling, though not yet mathematically out. Earlier, the Jamaicans found out that sustained explosive strokeplay will not flourish on the slow, low Guyanese pitches. Samuels, named Man-of-the-Match, seemed to have recognised this and grounded himself to top score for the Jamaicans 54 off 122 balls. He struck two fours and two sixes. His was the only score of significance for Jamaica, as his team-mates failed to properly understand their roles or the match situation. Xavier Marshall scored 26 and Brenton Parchment hit 16, and both looked to be in good touch before throwing their wickets away. (CMC)