BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
JERMAINE BLACKWOOD spanked an unbeaten half century in a fine all-round display to put Jamaica in a favourable position against the Leeward Islands on the opening day of their TCL Group West Indies Under-19 match yesterday.
Blackwood, a left-arm pacer, snared three wickets as the Leewards struggled to 205 all out after they were sent to bat at Lester Vaughn School ground.
Jamaica closed on level terms at 205 for seven, with Blackwood (55) and young Donovan Nelson (0) at the crease and poised to give the Jamaicans first innings points.
The Leewards played freely at the start and - an injury to West Indies Youth opener Kieran Powell apart - were streaking toward the 100-mark without losing a wicket when pacer Romeo Dunka dislodged Sherwin Peters with 94 runs on the board.
Fine start
The Leewards, beaten by Guyana in their opening game, got a fine start from Chesney Hughes and their captain Powell. But on 37, the left-handed Powell was forced to retire hurt with a shoulder injury after smashing six fours and a six.
Peters was caught behind for 17 and it became 109 for two when medium pacer Gifton Wray sent back Kadeem Phillip for 10, also caught behind.
From a lunch-time position of 117 for two, the Leewards declined swiftly to 134 for five.
Hughes went soon after the break for 52 off 69 balls, playing on against Nelson, the 14-year-old leg-spinner who helped West Indies win the CLICO International Under-15 title in May.
The Leewards lost another wicket four runs later when Javia Hamilton was run out for one, attempting a second run, and Blackwood then struck the first of three blows to remove Kjel Tyson for nine. Powell returned and completed a shot-filled half-century. He was dropped twice at mid-on before being caught in the same position for a top score of 61, with eight fours and two sixes.
Quickly slipped
The Jamaicans' reply after the tea break got off to an unsteady start, and they quickly slipped to 28 for two with West Indies Under-19 player Horace Miller (eight) and Nick Blackwood (13) falling cheaply.
Young offspinner Tevin Osbourne, of Montserrat, then did some damage with a double strike to remove No. 3 batsman John-Ross Campbell and captain Andre Creary before they could begin to flourish.
Osbourne dislodged Campbell leg before wicket for 14 at 53 for three and West Indies U19 player Creary (13) at 61 for four.
Kennar Lewis revived the innings by banging an aggressive 48 with five fours and four sixes, each driven either over long on or long off.
Blackwood and Dunka then linked up for a vital seventh-wicket stand that boosted the Jamaicans' bid for first innings points.
