Bernard, Miller carry Jamaica to victory

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Dave Bernard Jr and Nikita Miller shared eight wickets to bowl Jamaica to a 242-run victory over Barbados in their 10th round match of the WICB regional four-day competition yesterday at Kensington Oval, despite a hundred from opener Dale Richards.

Bernard collected four for 42 from 13 overs, and Miller captured four for 55 from 32.3 overs, as Barbados, chasing a highly improbable, if not impossible 515 for victory, were dismissed for 272 in their second innings about 50 minutes after lunch.

But Richards got his hundred from 138 balls before Jamaica could complete their victory, when Odean Brown mis-fielded a flick at short mid-wicket off Miller which allowed him to take a single.

Jamaica had few worries with the Barbadian batsmen apart from Richards, Kirk Edwards, with a solid 51, and Dwayne Smith with 28.

The visitors spent most of the morning period trying to break through the defences of Richards and Edwards who added 114 for the third wicket, after Barbados resumed on their overnight total of 107 for two.

Miller however, bowled Richards in the final half-hour of the morning, and the wickets flowed steadily for the Jamaicans, as Barbados slumped to 249 for six at lunch.

Miller had Kevin Stoute caught at slip for a duck, Edwards was run out, and Bernard bowled Patrick Browne for a duck.

After lunch, the Jamaicans encountered little resistance from the bottom half of the Barbados batting as the home team lost their last four wickets for 15 runs in the space of 53 balls.

Miller ended with match figures of nine for 88 to earn the Man-of-the-Match award, as the Jamaicans completed the season double over their hosts, following a six-wicket victory in their first leg match at Kensington Park in Kingston.

Jamaica now lead the Championship standings on 84 points and have extended their lead over the rest of the pack, leaving Barbados in third on 54 points.