ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Out-of-favour West Indies left-arm spinner Nikita Miller produced a magical spell to rout tournament leaders Windward Islands and hand five-time defending champions Jamaica a handsome 91-run victory in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.
Playing on the penultimate day of the fourth round encounter at the National Stadium, the Windwards were dismissed for a paltry 83, chasing 175 for victory. The 30-year-old Miller, who has not played for West Indies in two years, claimed seven for 30 from 18 overs to cripple the Windwards innings.
He received excellent support from leg-spinner Odean Brown who finished with three for 17 from eight overs.
Top order batsman Tyrone Theophile top scored with 20 and was one of only three batsmen to make into double figures, as the Windwards put up little resistance.
After losing their talisman Devon Smith without scoring late on the previous evening, Johnson Charles followed early on Friday when he was trapped lbw to Miller for six at 19 for two.
Donwell Hector was taken at short leg by Simon Jackson off Miller for three at 29 for three and Jamaica then claimed the prized wicket of captain Darren Sammy, lbw to Miller for five after spending 25 minutes at the crease.
Rocking at 37 for four, there was not be no recovery as Miller and Brown shared the next wickets to tumble to wrap up a comfortable victory.
Scoreboard
JAMAICA 1st Innings 207
WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings 130
JAMAICA 2nd Innings 97
WINDWARD ISLANDS 2nd Innings (target: 175)
(overnight none for one)
D Smith c & b Miller 0
J Charles lbw b Miller 6
T Theophille lbw b Miller 20
D Hector c. Jackson b Miller 3
*D Sammy lbw b Miller 5
D Polius b Miller 6
+L James c Bernard Jr. b Brown 16
S Shillingford c Gayle b Miller 11
G Mathurin c Jackson b Brown 7
K Peters not out 2
D Johnson lbw b O Brown 0
Extras (b5, lb2 ) 7
TOTAL (all out, 36 overs) 83
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-19, 3-29, 4-37, 5-45, 6-50, 7-74, 8-76, 9-82, 10-83.
Bowling: Miller 7-6-30-7, Richardson 2-0-10-0, Lambert 8-3-19-0, Brown 8-0-17-3.
Result: Jamaica won by 91 runs.
Points: Jamaica 12, Windwards 0.
Umpires: D. Ramdhanie, V. Smith
