BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

Another pathetic batting performance from defending champions Guyana left Jamaica in sight of an outright victory at the end of the second day of their fourth round TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge match at the Edgar Gilbert Park in Molineaux here yesterday.

Replying to Guyana's paltry 66, Jamaica declared at lunch on 266 for eight after continuing from their overnight 170 for five.

Tournament leaders Guyana, with a deficit of 200 runs, then capitulated from 52 without loss to 99 for six by the close, still 101 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat on the final day today.

Opener Robin Bacchus (32) was the only Guyanese to pass 20 as Guyana once again fell to the pace of Jason Dawes (2-12) and the off-spin of Marlon Hoilette (2-36).

"Our batting in both innings was totally irresponsible. We had no problem with the pitch," Guyana's coach Huburn Evans lamented.

"The instruction was to see off the new ball and then bat sensibly without taking undue risk. Our batsmen appeared to forget that we were also playing for runs and their negative attitude allowed the Jamaicans to attack more. You can't just block for a day and a half when you are behind by 200 runs and expect to save the game."

Guyana, who in the first innings scored their second lowest total in the 39-year history of the competition following the 40 they made against Barbados at the GDF ground in Guyana in 1981, began watchfully in their second innings against Dawes' genuine pace.

Content to see Dawes off, openers Delroy Jacobs and Bacchus, batted cautiously to survive the second session on a track much easier for batting than it was in the first innings.

By tea, the score was 52 without loss with Bacchus unbeaten on 32 and Jacobs, 15.

Bacchus, who batted for 124 minutes, faced 101 balls and hit two boundaries in his knock, wasted all his initial hard work by pushing a catch to silly mid-off in the first over after tea as off-spinner Jamie Merchant struck.

Earlier, Jamaican skipper Derval Green hit a responsible 81 as his side built on their advantage the previous day. Green's maiden half-century lasted 169 balls, 216, minutes and included five fours.

For Guyana, Kellon Carmichael finished with two for 37, while left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took two for 73 to move to 21 scalps in the competition.

AT CONAREE: Barbados got a crucial knock of 91 from Kyle Corbin and strong all-round efforts from captain Shamarh Brooks and Kyle Hope to stay in charge against the Leeward Islands on the second day of their fourth-round match yesterday.

Responding to the Leewards' fragile first innings score of 144, Barbados scored 266 all out and then grabbed five Leeward Islands' second-innings wickets before stumps.

SCORES:

LEEWARD ISLANDS 144 (Chesney Hughes 41, Moreland LeBlanc 22; Shamarh Brooks 3-22, Dawayne Sealy 3-24, Ashley Nurse 3-28) and 150-5 (Kejel Tyson 59, Chesney Hughes 46; Kyle Hope 2-4, Shamarh Brooks 2-42).

BARBADOS 266 (Kyle Corbin 91, Shamarh Brooks 60, Renaldo Arthur 41, Kyle Hope 32; Hayden Walsh Jnr. 4-92, Terrance Ward 3-30, Trevier Smithen 3-52).

At Cayon: Batsmen Milton Dookeran and Darren Bravo hit maiden centuries to give Trinidad & Tobago a slim advantage over the Windward Islands on the second day of their match yesterday.

Dookeran registered a disciplined 122, while Bravo stroked an impressive 107 as T&T, chasing the Windwards' competitive total of 235, declared at 292 for seven to establish an important 57-run lead with one day in the contest remaining.

Batting a second time, the Windwards reached 50 for one at the close.

Scores:

WINDWARD ISLANDS 235 (Keddy Lesporis 63, Johnson Charles 63, Lindon Lawrence 38, Dawnley Grant 25; Varoon Samaroo 4-73, Marlon Richards 2-29) & 50-1.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 292-7 decl. (Milton Dookeran 122, Darren Bravo 107; Dalton Polius 3-88, Donwell Hector 2-42).