Jamaicans on the backfoot

PHILLISBURG: Wilden Cornwall and Ridley Jacobs hit superb centuries yesterday to help put the Leeward Islands in a superior position in their sixth round match in the Carib Beer Series regional cricket tournament against front runners Jamaica. When stumps were drawn on the second day, Jamaica were 179 for three, replying to the Leewards’ imposing first innings total of 510 for nine declared in which Cornwall hit the top score of 111, his maiden First-Class century and Jacobs supported with 104.

Jamaica’s position could have been better had Tamar Lambert survived the last over bowled by Kerry Jeremy, who trapped the batsman leg before wicket with the final delivery of the day for 33. Xavier Marshall, who hit a classy 62, and Jamaica captain Wavell Hinds, who made a scratchy 18, had put on 58 in quick time for the first wicket for the visitors. Off-spin bowler Omari Banks made the breakthrough however, when Hinds was caught at deep backward square leg boundary just after tea.

Marshall, who spanked a few fours off Jeremy and Cornwall in the opening overs, also showed his prowess against the spin duo of Banks and 21-year-old leg-spin newcomer, Brian Stephanie. But Guyanese-born Stephanie, who plays for Montserrat in the Leewards tournament, grabbed his maiden Frst-Class wicket when he trapped Marshall leg before wicket with a googly, after the batsman had survived a confident shout to a similar delivery a few overs earlier. Marshall’s cameo came off 72 balls and included eight fours and a six, a disdainful hook off Simon.   Marshall and Donavan Pagon, who mixed aggression with caution in compiling 59 unbeaten runs, added 47 for the second wicket.

Pagon and Lambert, who was batting well, were batting the Jamaicans to the close when Jeremy struck to set back the Jamaicans. Earlier, Leewards continued from their bedtime position of 346 for five and Cornwall, who was undefeated on 98, got the two runs needed in the first over of the day to complete his maiden First-Class century before he was dismissed caught at first slip off left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, who ended with three wickets for 112 runs from 43 overs.

Cornwall, who shared a stand of 66 with compatriot Jacobs, who had resumed on 16, batted for 191 minutes, faced 150 balls and slammed 11 fours. Jacobs, the former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman, then shared in useful stands of 62 for the seventh wicket with Banks, who scored 31, and 54 for the eighth wicket with Carl Simon, who made 23. Jacobs continued to inch his way to his second hundred of the season and seventh overall in regional competition before the declaration came when he was dismissed. Just prior to his dismissal, Jacobs was severe on Daren Powell in one over in which he lifted the fast bowler over long on for six before cutting and pulling him for two more fours. He reached his milestone when he pulled Samuels to the boundary before cutting the next ball for another of his 13 fours. His 185-ball knock lasted 381 minutes before his opposite number off Carlton Baugh, Jr., stumped him off Miller.