( L - R ) Thomas, Creary

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

A solid third-wicket partnership of 137 between André Creary and Shacoya Thomas saw Jamaica to a sound position at the end of the first day of their third round match in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge yesterday at the Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex.

Creary was undefeated on 75 and Thomas scored 73, as Jamaica, sent in to bat, reached 203 for three when stumps were drawn half-hour ahead of the scheduled close because of torrential rain.

Creary, playing in his second tournament, has maintained his rich form to play another gem of an innings following his unbeaten 59 against the Leewards in the previous round. He has so far batted for 252 minutes and struck eight fours.

Thomas, who registered his first half-century for the tournament, batted equally well, but continues to get out when he looks set for a big score.

Playing against his natural aggressive batting style, the solidly-built right-hander occupied the crease for 2-1/2 hours. Thomas struck seven fours and two sixes and was the dominant member in the partnership.

The most successful bowler for Barbados so far has been Amal Nurse. He has taken two wickets for 37 runs from 18 overs.

The right-arm medium-pacer bowled with intelligence and aggression, and he was rewarded with the wickets of Horace Miller for five and Thomas. Both were caught behind.

The only other wicket-taker was off-spinner Stefan Gooding, who deceived Christie Jones for a well played 36, with a faster delivery.

First wicket

The first wicket of the day fell with the score on 27 and the second on 60.

The Jamaica batsmen chose to consolidate during the entire post-lunch session when 43 overs were bowled with 72 runs being scored.

At Warner Park: Defending champions Guyana continued their dominance with another authoritative performance against Trinidad & Tobago yesterday.

On the opening day of their round three fixture, Guyana, led by intelligent bowling from their pace and spin attack, routed T&T for a paltry 82, and then rattled up 110 for one, when bad light and rain stopped play with 14 overs in the day's play remaining.

Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul with four for 20 was the top bowler for Guyana and was well supported by medium-pacers Muneshwar Patadin with two for 15 and Kellon Carmichael two for 18.

Batting for Guyana, Rajendra Chandrika is on 52 not out and Patadin unbeaten on 51.

AT CAYON: The in-form Moreland LeBlanc stroked his third consecutive half century and lifted the Leeward Islands out of deep trouble on the opening day of their match against the Windward Islands yesterday.

Pacer Dawnley Grant led the bottom-of-the-table Windwards with a solid four-wicket haul, while LeBlanc - batting at No. 5 - spanked an unbeaten 75 and engineered the Leewards' total of 185 all out before rain prematurely stopped play.

LeBlanc, who found a solid eighth-wicket partner in Hayden Walsh, struck 10 fours in his knock as he increased his tournament aggregate to 231 from four innings.