Jacobs 3rd century rallies Leewards

MOLYNEAUX, St Kitts: Ridley Jacobs hit his third century of the series and in the process set a new record for the Leeward Islands’ ninth wicket, as they set Barbados a challenging 278 to win, after the third day of their seventh round Carib Beer Cricket Series match at the Edgar Gilbert Sporting Complex yesterday. Barbados were 34 for one wicket when bad light ended play at about 5 pm with 13.2 overs remaining on a fluctuating day’s play dominated by the bat of Jacobs.

The West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman and Kerry Jeremy, who was last out for 49, broke the Leewards’ previous ninth-wicket record of 103 set by Livingston Harris and Noel Guishard against Jamaica in 1990, when they added a priceless 111 to take the score from 167 for eight to 278 for nine. Jacobs, who cracked 105 in 286 minutes, off 219 balls with 13 fours, and Jeremy, who batted for 157 minutes, faced 108 balls and hit 13 fours, both picked up momentum when Barbados took the second new ball with the score on 200 for eight. Having come together just after lunch, they took the attack to the bowlers in the mid-session as Jacobs lifted pacer Fidel Edwards for two fours that forced Browne to remove him from the attack.

At the other end, Jeremy slammed left-arm seamer Pedro Collins for three fours in one over and he too was replaced by Browne, who had to resort to left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds and medium-pacer Dwayne Smith to stem the flow of runs. Resuming from the tea time score of 229 for eight with Jacobs on 77 and Jeremy on 26, the batsmen continued to score freely and Jacobs soon completed his ton by driving Smith for four and then getting two runs to reach three figures.

Jacobs, who watched Jeremy dispatch Hinds over the midwicket boundary, could not handle a sharp lifting delivery from Edwards and gloved it to Browne. He departed to a standing ovation from a large crowd. Jeremy, who had batted confidently throughout his innings, lifted Hinds again over the fence before he attempted to repeat the stroke and was caught by Smith coming off the boundary. Before this, Barbados held the upper hand as they grabbed two wickets for 20 runs early in the morning session, to leave the Leewards on 84 for five after they had resumed on 64 for three. Captain Sylvester Joseph (0) and Wilden Cornwall (5) were dismissed by Collins and Corey Collymore respectively, before Stuart Williams (47) and Jacobs added 67 for the sixth wicket.

Williams’ knock contained six fours from 108 balls before he was caught off Hinds just before lunch at 151 for six. Collins and Hinds took a wicket each after lunch as Omari Banks (0) and Carl Simon (1) departed quickly. But Jacobs and Jeremy stemmed the tide and batted the Leewards into position to press for an outright win. Hinds captured four for 48 and Collins, three for 51. Barbados lost Dale Richards (6) to a catch to Jacobs off Simon with the score on 16 but Campbell and Smith, who was dropped on two at second slip by Runako Morton off Jeremy, survived until stumps were drawn. Barbados need another 244 runs to win.