Jamaica (158/7) defy TT bowlers

GEORGETOWN: Jamaica, led by a defiant eighth wicket partnership from Chadwick Walton and Garvin Wallace, reached 158 for seven against Trinidad and Tobago at the close, in the final preliminary round of the TCL Group Under-19 cricket competition at the LBI ground yesterday.

Walton and Wallace came together with their team struggling on 103 for seven wickets and added a further 55 before a heavy downpour, accompanied by a thunderstorm brought a premature end to the day’s play. Rain had also interrupted the entire post lunch session. Walton is unbeaten on 34 and Wallace 13. Talented fast-bowler Ravi Rampaul with four for 27 is the leading wicket taker. The day started with Jamaica winning the toss and deciding to bat. T&T made three changes to their winning combination with Dion Bennette, Vishu Narine and Rishi Bachan replacing Lendl Simmons, Kwesi Roy and Kapil Subran respectively. Xavier Marshall (26) and Simon Jackson (0) started the Jamaicans innings and posted 18 before they were separated, when the latter was run out in a terrible mix-up.

The big-hitting Duran Whyte (44), joined Marshall and pushed the score before Marshall was well caught by Rampaul off Magnum Nanan’s bowling. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals and the Jamaicans went to lunch in trouble on 90 for five, with Whyte on 39 and Jamie Trenchfield eight. After the delayed start, Rampaul had two quick strikes to remove Trenchfield and Whyte, as the Jamaicans tumbled to 103 for seven. Top-scorer Whyte batted for 122 minutes and 93 balls as he struck seven fours. Play will start 30 minutes earlier today to make up for the lost time.