The Leeward Islands and Jamaica eventually played to a tame draw in the late afternoon of the final day of their first round encounter in the Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series at the Ronald Webster Park in a sunny Anguilla, but not before Jamaica had assured themselves of gaining the all- important first inning points with a well applied and hard fought effort which saw them to a lead of 87 runs.

The Leewards, who were asked to bat by the Jamaican captain Robert Samuels on what proved, predictably, to be a perfect batting strip, must have felt contented when they reached their first innings total of 357, with excellent knocks of 71 by a typically fluent and graceful Stuart Williams, a very gritty 68 by the imperturbable Ian Tittle and a fine top-scoring 75 at a time when it really counted by Anguillian all-rounder Omari Banks.

Though 357 runs can always be considered a satisfactory score, it was soon obvious to discerning cricket followers that with the wicket playing very true and easily and with Jamaica coming off a championship season, that the match could well prove to be a battle for first innings advantage with little chance of an outright result. This feeling was becoming more of a realistic possibility when Jamaica, in reply, had reached 152 for 3 at stumps on the second day with Leon Garrick having looked comfortable before succumbing for a well played 58, and with Dave Bernard and Marlon Samuels looking particularly unruffled by the Leewards bowling in seeing their team to the close. Jamaica captain Robert Samuels in batting very carefully and resolutely had made it perfectly obvious that his policy was to ensure that his team kept their wickets in hand in an attempt to finish this four-day encounter with first innings points.

His approach was justified as Dave Bernard with a classy 91 and wicket keeper Hibbert with 81 led the Jamaican onslaught after Samuels had stayed on through lunch on the third day before eventually going for a patient but invaluable 45.

The 21-year old Bernard’s innings was a particular delight, the tall, elegant right hander driving fluently throughout his 151-ball innings which included one six and thirteen fours. It was eventually Hibbert and Ventura who saw the Jamaicans to the Leewards score of 357 before Ventura fell to Adams.

Jamaica eventually reached 403 for 8 at the close of the third day, but when play resumed on Monday morning there were not quite finished, the last two wickets adding 41 more runs for a final innings total of 444. Of the Leewards bowlers, Omari Banks bowled a marathon 70 overs in the innings eventually finishing with a very admirable 3 for 122, a performance which give the youngster confidence for the rest of the tournament, particularly as he had scored an attractive and accomplished 75 in the Leewards first innings.

The fourth day was eventually played out to a tame draw with the Leewards ending on 167 for 3 when play was called off, but not before Alex Adams had hit a typically attractive 65 and Sylvester Joseph, who looks in good nick, reaching 56 not out.

The Leewards will now head for St. Kitts where they will have their second home game against Guyana at Mollineaux starting on Friday.

Mr. David Kenworthy

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