NAIN, Jamaica, (CMC) - Jamaica crushed the Leeward Islands by 260 runs before lunch, as nine Leeward wickets fell disappointingly for 68 runs on the fourth and final day of their seventh round Carib Beer Series match at the Alpart Sports Club yesterday.
Set 405 to win, the Leewards plunged to 144 all out in their second innings 17 minutes before the scheduled lunch break.
Pacer Andrew Richardson (4-23) and leg-spinner Odean Brown (4-44) were the wreckers for Jamaica, as the batsmen failed to apply themselves, after starting the day needing a challenging further 239 for victory.
Jamaica finished on 52 points -- a long way behind runaway champions Barbados (84), and will be at home against the Windwards in one of the International Challenge semifinal matches this coming weekend.
From an overnight 76 for one, opener Wilden Cornwall (49) was the first to go as he prodded forward to Brown, who was getting some turn on a dusty pitch.
Sylvester Joseph (31) followed him, as he disappointingly on-drove Brown to Donovan Pagon at mid-on.
Ian Tittle (19) swung across the line at Richardson, after thinking the ball would have climbed higher, and was given out leg-before-wicket.
Brown then bagged his third wicket as Carl Tuckett (0) gently pushed a delivery into the hands of Maurice Kepple at silly point.
Tonito Willett (1) was beaten for pace by Richardson and was bowled off an under edge, while Chaka Hodge enterprisingly jumped down to Brown and was easily stumped by Carlton Baugh after he missed the ball.
Gavin Tonge (0) and Adam Sanford (1) were both bowled by Richardson with fast full-length deliveries.
Dane Weston (0) was the last batsman to be dismissed, run-out by Keith Hibbert, after Ridley Jacobs (22 not out) pushed the ball into the offside and Weston felt there was a run to be taken.
Chris Gayle, who was deputising as captain after Gareth Breese had his hand broken by a Sanford delivery, was named man-of-the-match for his whirlwind 219 on the third day, which propelled Jamaica to a score of 394 for three and gave them enough time to declare their second innings.
JAMAICA 1st innings 200 (C.Baugh 87 not out; C.Hodge 4-67)