Jerome Taylor (5/22) wrecks Leewards

DISCOVERY BAY: Jamaica held a 75-run lead over the Leeward Islands at the close of the second day of their Carib Beer Series regional cricket match yesterday. The hosts, who made 188 in their first innings, are 37 runs for the loss of three wickets in their second time at the crease. The Leewards were bowled out for 150 in their first innings at the Kaiser Sports Club. Donovan Pagon (five) and night watchman Nikita Miller (two) are the not out batsmen.

Openers Maurice Kepple and Shawn Findlay; and Lorenzo Ingram are the batsmen out in the Jamaica second innings. Medium-pacer Wilden Cornwall made the early breakthrough by removing Kepple and Findlay in successive overs. Kepple was trapped leg before wicket for 12, then he had Findlay caught by Runako Morton in the slips for eight. Fastbowler Carl Simon picked up Ingram’s wicket for four. Earlier, penetrative bowling from fastbowler Jerome Taylor and leftarm spinner Nikita Miller gave the Jamaicans the  advantage. They combined to rout the Leewards shortly after tea. Taylor, playing in his first four-day match in ten months, took five wickets for 22 runs from ten overs. Miller, making his First-Class debut, finished with four for 48 from 29 overs.

The Leewards were in trouble at the start of their innings,  losing Shane Jeffers for nought and Stuart Williams for two with only two runs on the board. Jeffers was caught by Ingram off fastbowler Darren Powell while Taylor accounted for Williams who was caught in the deep attempting a hook shot. Captain Sylvester Joseph and Morton stabilised the innings and took the Leewards to lunch at 80 for two with Joseph on 30 and Morton on 31.

With the addition of 17 runs after the break, Joseph was adjudged leg before wicket to Miller for 35, then four runs later Morton was dismissed in similar fashion by Taylor for 50. Morton, who shared a fourth wicket stand of 97 with Joseph, struck four fours and one six off 139 deliveries. The dismissal of Joseph and Morton triggered a collapse as five wickets fell for 17 runs. The other batsmen out are Wilden Cornwall (two), Ridley Jacobs (three), Tonito Willett (seven) and Omari Banks who failed to score.