BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):Omari Banks struck a hundred and leg-spinner Anthony Martin sliced through Jamaica's batting to leave the reigning champions on the ropes against the Leeward Islands in their first-round WICB four-day regional match yesterday.

Replying to the Leewards' first innings score of 298 at Warner Park, Jamaica staggered to 201 for seven at stumps on the second day, with wicketkeeper/batsman Keith Hibbert (34) battling hard to keep his side in the hunt for first-innings points.

Beefed up innings

Banks, aiming to re-establish himself as an international cricketer, beefed up the Leewards' innings with fighting knock of 108 and Martin complemented his effort with a five-wicket haul to give the Leewards the advantage at the halfway stage of the game.

Resuming at an overnight 75 with the Leewards on 235 for six, Banks was patient and determined as he pressed towards his hundred. He took approximately 30 minutes to score at the start of play, and it was the veteran Wilden Cornwall who mostly carried their 62-run seventh-wicket stand.

Cornwall struck 39 with five boundaries before he was trapped leg before wicket by a Gavin Wallace googly at 273 for seven.

The innings declined swiftly after Cornwall's departure.

Gavin Tonge and Anthony Martin both went without scoring to Odean Brown as the Leewards dipped to 278 for nine.

Banks secured his first regional hundred since smashing the Jamaican bowling for three figures two years ago in a Carib Beer Series match, when he took two runs off a delivery from Wallace that he played backward of square.

The tall 26-year-old, the first Anguillan ever to represent West Indies, faced 277 balls and struck seven fours and two sixes in his innings.

He was last out, attempting a reverse sweep against Wallace that he top-edged to give wicketkeeper Hibbert an easy catch.

Brown finished with splendid figures of five for 82 off 41 overs with eight maidens, and Wallace was equally stifling with three for 53 off 27 overs including four maidens.

Chasing their first regional four-day title in 10 years, the Leewards then made excellent use of the remaining minutes to lunch and inflicted immediate damage in the first over.

Pacer Tonge dislodged Brenton Parchment with his fourth ball - caught at gully by Banks - as the right-hander failed to handle a rising delivery.

Jamaica went to lunch at 16 for one and lost two more wickets before tea after Donovan Pagon and Danza Hyatt added 72 for the second wicket.

Too far across

Hyatt was bowled - leg stump - for 21 when he went too far across to a delivery from medium-pacer Cornwall, and it became 96 for three when Pagon fell for 62.

Pagon, who played two Tests against South Africa in 2005, stroked the ball well, hitting nine boundaries, but was caught at long-off when he failed to clear the boundary as he attacked leg-spinner Martin.

From a tea-time position of 107 for three, captain Lambert and the experienced Wavell Hinds built a promising partnership but their separation triggered a rapid decline.

The left-handed Hinds (31) edged Martin to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas at 156 for four, and without addition to the score, the Antiguan leg-spinner removed David Bernard lbw without playing a stroke to a googly.

Martin has so far picked up five for 48 off 22 overs with seven maidens, with Cornwall (1-18), Gavin Tonge (1-47) sharing the other two wickets.|

IN GRENADA: Windward Islands, responding to Guyana's first innings score of 172 all out, reached 377 for seven at the close.

Scores: Guyana 172 (Travis Dowlin 50; Shane Shillingford 4-43, Darren Sammy 2-16); Windwards 377 for seven (Devon Smith 201 not out, Darren Sammy 57; Devendra Bishoo 3-89).

IN BARBADOS: Barbados, replying to Trinidad & Tobago's first innings total of 264, reached 108 for four at the close.

Scores: Trinidad and Tobago 264 (Daren Bravo 97, Daren Ganga 56; Ryan Hinds 4-50, Kemar Roach 3-59). Barbados 108 for four (Dale Richards 60 not out).