Caribbean T20: Jamaica defeat Leeward Islands by 9 wickets
A disciplined and controlled bowling performance by Jamaican bowling attack restricted Leeward Island’s to 124 runs for the loss of 7 wickets at the Kensington Oval on Thursday. It was the opening match of the Caribbean T20 Zone A fixture where the Leeward Island bowlers looked to be out of flair throughout the match as they kept on bowling some loose balls and conceded plenty of extras - the final tally included 23 wide deliveries. The fielding was equally shoddy with the fielders dropping too many catches.
Jamaican opener Xavier http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marshall-c74817 led his side from the front by chasing a paltry total of 124 runs with ease in 17.4 overs, losing just one wicket. An opening stand of 60 runs in 8 overs put the Jamaicans in the driver’s seat. Leeward Islands captain Wilden Cornwall after winning the toss decided to bat first. Opening batsmen Javier Liburd and Shane Jeffers gave the side a steady start of 35 runs in the first six overs. The 30-ball opening partnership saw a lone boundary which was smashed by Liburd over the midwicket region. However, things took a u-turn. Just on the next delivery, Gayle sent Liburd back to the pavilion for 25 after scooping the ball to Tamar Lambert who was standing at the cover region. At this moment, the Leeward Island’s score was 35 for 1.
Leeward Island’s was further dented in the next over when the medium pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Krishmar-Santokie-c71724 took two successive wickets on the last two deliveries of his first over. The left-armer clean bowled opener Shane Jaffer and captain Wilden Cornwall on the fifth and sixth delivery of the over. Jeffers scored 5 runs from 16 deliveries while the captain went back for a duck. Santokie failed to complete his hat-trick as the umpire turned down his lbw appeal against Tonito Willett.
At 35 for 3, Leeward Islands was desperate for an extensive partnership and the initiative was taken by Tonito Willett and Runako Morton. Both the partners added 60 runs to the team’s total for the fourth wicket stand. Willet failed to capitalize a couple of good chances which were offered by Santokie before hitting the ball to the long-off region for a boundary. He showed more fluency as compared to his partner when he hit two boundaries and a six.
He was playing at 37 from 35 balls when Santokie earned a breakthrough for his side as Willet departed on the last ball of 14th over. He hit a Santokie delivery straight into the hands of David Bernard who was standing at long on. At the time of Willet’s dismissal, Leeward Island’s was 95 for 4 after 14 overs. Morton lost his wicket in the following over when Chris Gayle bowled him. He scored 22 runs from 27 balls.
The Jamaican attack did not let the opposition batting gain the momentum throughout their innings by bowling frequent dot balls. A controlled bowling with remarkable line and length kept Leeward Island’s batsmen under check.
Omari Banks, fresh from his county experience, failed to spark a bright performance against the strong Jamaicans. His five ball stay at the crease could add just 3 runs to the score. Banks departed on the last ball of the 16th over when he slashed Russel straight into the hands of Miller, leaving Leeward Island’s tottering at 109 for the loss of 6 wickets. At the end of 20 overs, Leeward Island’s ended at 124 runs for 7.
Santokie was the most successful Jamaican bowler who took 3 wickets and conceded 20 runs in his four over spell followed by Chris Gayle with 2 for 19.
The explosive opening duo from Jamaica did not bang the ball as expected. Jamaica’s account was opened on the last ball of the second over of the chase. However, the 60 runs from the next six overs compensated the scoreless opening overs at the start of the innings. Gayle lost his wicket in the 8th over when he was run out by the keeper on Martin’s throw.
Gayle’s dismissal brought Samuels to the crease. Both Samuel and Marshall took Jamaica to safety with 14 balls to spare. In the next game, Jamaica will take on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 while Leeward Island’s is going to play against Trinidad & Tobago on the 24th of July at Bridgetown.
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