BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Only three-and-a-half hours play was possible on the second day but Windward Islands still managed to secure first innings points over defending champions Jamaica in their final round clash in the Regional Under-19 three-day Championship yesterday.
A wet outfield at the Weymouth Sports Club kept players off the field for virtually two sessions and when play finally started at 2:30 pm, the Windwards played cautiously to reach 117 for three, overhauling Jamaica’s paltry first innings of 116.
Not a single boundary was struck as the Windwards made slow but careful progress, with opener Keone George anchoring the innings with a top score of 48.
He faced 149 balls in just over 3-1/2 hours at the crease, putting on 62 for the first wicket with Gidron Pope who got 26.
Resuming on 22 without loss, the Windwards pushed on to 61 for no further loss when tea was taken at 3:40 pm, with George on 32 and Pope, 26.
On resumption, Pope was lbw pushing forward to off-spinner Delbert Gayle and with 15 runs added, captain Jerlani Robinson followed via the same route, offering no shot to a Tezwayne Creary off-break.
George and Taryck Gabriel, who was unbeaten on 26 at the close, combined in a 24-run third wicket stand to ease the tension, and put the Windwards in sight of the lead.
Unfortunately, George did not hang around to see his side to the mark, edging off-spinner Oshane Walters behind as he essayed a drive.
