Jamaica's highs and lows against Leewards

BY PAUL BURROWES Observer writer

Thursday, February 16, 2012

TWO right-hand batsmen — Cleveland Davidson from Little London in Westmoreland and Delroy Morgan from Rollington Town in Kingston — spearheaded Jamaica to their highest team total against the Leeward Islands in regional, first-class, four-day competition.

The batting duo, along with 20-year-old offspinner Nehemiah Perry, also pulled off one of Jamaica's largest innings victory in the February 3-6, 1989 Red Stripe Cup match at Sabina Park.

The Marlon Tucker-led Jamaica, which also included Robert Haynes, Jimmy Adams, Mark Neita and Michael Holding, won the toss and decided to bat against the Leewards, who were being captained by Antiguan Ralston Otto.

Number six batsman Davidson stood solid with an unbeaten 200 and opener Morgan cracked 111. Tucker added 61 and Perry 47 to jazz up Jamaica to 523 for nine declared.

George Ferris (3-117) and Noel Guishard (3-109) were the pick of the bowlers for the Leewards.

In response, the Leewards were bowled out for 243 with Perry, who accounted for the wickets of Otto (67) and Stuart Williams (three), claiming five for 74. Haynes took two for 59.

Following on, the Leewards came up short again with Alfred Kelly (77) and Otto (74) as chief run-getters in their 250 all out.

Perry starred again with 4-66, and Haynes took 3-85. Jamaica won by an innings and 30 runs.

Last year at Warner Park, in Basseterre, St Kitts, Tamar Lambert-skippered Jamaica whipped the Leewards by 10 wickets on the back of Marlon Samuels' 167 off 219 balls (17x4s, 3x6s) in his 280-minute stay at the crease.

Winning the toss, Jamaica amassed 504 for five declared. On top of Samuels' century, four other batsmen hit half-centuries -- Simon Jackson (61), Brendan Nash (67), Wavell Hinds (51 not out) and David Bernard (53 not out).

Opener Shane Jeffers, a left-hand batsman, struck 118 to spur the Leewards to 305 all out. Lambert grabbed 4-70 and Bernard 3-39.

Following on, the Steve Liburd-led Leewards faltered to 209 all out, with Bernard snapping up five for 40 and Odean Brown, 3-67.

Openers Danza Hyatt (13 not out) and Jackson (0 not out) needed only 15 minutes to seal the 10-wicket victory.

After 37 matches against the Leewards, Jamaica have won 16 and lost 12, with nine drawn.

With no Leewards player yet to score even a half-century so far in this regional four-day competition, the Gavin Williams-led team will likely benefit from a low-scoring game. Gavin Tonge (eight wickets) and Anthony Martin (seven wickets) have been their best bowlers so far.

In fact, two of Jamaica's lowest team totals in regional first-class cricket of 94 and 96 came against the Leewards, not at Sabina Park, but at Grove Park, Charlestown in Nevis and at Warner Park, respectively.

Of course, the Leewards won both of those matches by an innings and 67 runs and by 305 runs in January 1995 and February 1988, respectively.