CRAB HILL, Barbados, (CMC) - Five wickets, two each to Andrew Richardson and Darren Powell, have put Jamaica in a very strong position to press for victory in the final of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series against Barbados at the North Stars Social & Cultural Club yesterday.
Barbados, trailing Jamaica by 116 runs on first innings, were 149 for five in their second innings when stumps were drawn on the second day, after the Barbadians dismissed the visitors for 258, replying to their first innings total of 142.
Richardson removed opening batsman Kurt Wilkinson for six and the experienced Sherwin Campbell for 49 to end the day with two wickets for 47 runs from 10 overs, while Powell had opener Martin Nurse and Dwayne Smith, to finish with two for 25 from seven overs.
The Barbadians had fought back to limit the Jamaica first innings lead. Chris Gayle hit the top score of 76 and Pedro Collins ended with four for 56 from 18.3 overs and Ian Bradshaw took three for 58 from 24 overs.
But Jamaica hit back when Richardson made the breakthrough by having Wilkinson adjudged lbw playing across a well-pitched delivery, but his most telling blow came when he had Campbell also lbw dubiously on the backfoot to a ball moving back to check Barbados’ progress.
In-between, Powell had removed Martin Nurse caught at deep fine leg for 33, hooking at a short, rising ball and Gayle had Ryan Hinds dubiously caught behind for 25, before Powell dealt a painful blow when Dwayne Smith was caught behind for seven.
Earlier, Jamaica resumed from their overnight position of 135 for two and lost their last eight wickets for 95 runs.
The Barbadians bowled tightly and intelligently to put some pressure on the Jamaica batsmen. Gayle was the first to crack when he was lbw to his 157th ball from Collins offering no stroke after batting just over four hours and striking a dozen fours and one six.
It broke a stand of 74 for the third wicket with Tamar Lambert, who was caught at first slip off Ian Bradshaw a few overs later, before the same bowler had Dave Bernard bowled for six to leave Jamaica 205 for five at lunch.
After the interval, Hibbert was caught at first slip off Collymore for 32, Carlton Baugh was caught behind off Bradshaw for 12, Powell was bowled leg-stump by Collins for 13, Odean Browne was caught at first slip off Tino Best for three and Andrew Richardson was bowled middle stump by Collins for one.
But Jamaica’s bowlers too, showed they were up to the occasion and kept their team out front.
BARBADOS 1st innings 142
(R. Hinds 43; A. Richardson 3-, D. Powell 3-)
JAMAICA 2nd innings (o/n 135 for two)
C. Gayle lbw b Collins 76
M. Kepple c Reifer b Collymore 16
D. Pagon lbw b Collins 20
T. Lambert c Reifer b Bradshaw 33
K. Hibbert c Reifer b Collymore 32
D. Bernard b Bradshaw 6
C. Baugh c wkpr Browne b Bradshaw 12
N. Perry not out 14
D. Powell b Collins 13
O. Brown c Reifer b Best 3
A. Richardson b Collins 1
Extras: (b-8, lb-12, nb-12) 32
Total: (all out) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-89, 3-163, 4-177, 5-195, 6-220, 7-226, 8-243, 9-255.