By Tony Becca, Contributing Editor 
THE FOUR-day semi-final match of the Carib Beer International Challenge Trophy contest between Jamaica and the Windward Islands at Alpart enters its third and penultimate day today with the home team, thanks to three quick wickets by Nehemiah Perry and David Bernard Jnr., on top and looking good.
At stumps on yesterday's second day, the Windward Islands were 121 for four replying to Jamaica's 338, and with the visitors trailing by 217 runs with only six wickets in hand and top batsman Devon Smith back in the pavilion after a well-layed 51, the odds are heavily in favour of the home team winning the lead and taking control even though the dangerous Rawl Lewis, 26 with five boundaries, is still there and Darren Sammy, Shane Shillingford and Fernix Thomas, who scored 55, 63 and 45 when the Windward Islands snatched first innings points against Jamaica in St. Lucia, are still to come.
With Smith, four centuries in the season and including one against Jamaica in the first round, and 18-year-old Craig Emmanuel batting well, the Windward Islands were going great guns at 85 for one when Perry, two for 20 off 14 overs, and Bernard picked up three wickets in two overs and left them reeling at 86 for four and fighting for survival with fielders all around the batsmen during most of the final 13 overs.
RECOVERY
Resuming at 215 for six off 91 overs with Bernard on 69 and Perry on 22, Jamaica, on 90 for four shortly after lunch on the first day after losing Christopher Gayle to the second delivery of the innings, continued their recovery and added 123 in 40 overs with Perry scoring 27, Daren Powell 24, Odean Brown 32, and Bernard a valuable 120 against bowlers and fielders who were not as good as they were on the first day.
After batting for 182 minutes, facing 129 deliveries and stroking 10 fours and one six on the first day, Bernard, with two fours and one six, added 51 in 159 minutes off 98 deliveries yesterday while ticking off his second first-class century and bettering his first of 109 against Guyana at Albion last year.
The century innings by Bernard, highlighted yesterday by one tremendous stroke when he went down on his right knee and drove offspinner Shillingford over long-off for six, was the first against the Windward Islands this season, the third by Jamaica this season, the 98th by Jamaica in the history of the regional tournament, the 57th at home, and the first at Alpart.
As far as the hometown fans were concerned, Smith or no Smith, Jamaica's total was too good for the Windward Islands, and when fast bowler Andrew Richardson, steaming in from the south and bowling well, handed them an early wicket at 12 for one in the fourth over when he beat Romel Currency with a lovely delivery that moved away off the pitch, nicked the outside edge and went straight to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jnr., they were all smiles.
With Smith, who survived some close calls for leg before wicket against Richardson, and young Emmanuel playing some lovely shots, however, the Windward Islands countered brilliantly and silenced the gathering before Perry, twirling his offbreaks from the southern end, rocked them with two wickets in two deliveries and medium-pacer Bernard, moving the ball nicely off the seam, knocked them dizzy with another in the following over as the cheers echoed around the ground.
Smith, one delivery after celebrating his half-century, drove Perry powerfully off the front-foot and Tamar Lambert dived for a brilliant catch at short extra-cover.
That was 85 for two; it was 85 for three when left-hander Kenroy Martin leaned forward, stroked the ball back up the pitch and Perry dived forward for the return catch; and with a no-ball from Perry moving the total by one, it was 86 for four when Bernard trapped the impressive Emmanuel leg before wicket for 28 - the righthander missing an incutter as he shuffled across the crease.
SCOREBOARD
Jamaica first innings
(Resumed at 215-6)
D. Bernard b Butler 120
C. Baugh run out 10
N. Perry b Butler 27
D. Powell c Sammy b Thomas 24
O. Brown b Lewis 32
A. Richardson not out 5
Extras: 28
TOTAL: (all out) 338
Fall: 0-1, 88-2, 88-3, 90-4, 132-5, 170-6, 221-7, 261-8, 322-9, 10-338.
Bowling: Thomas 26-5-54-2; Butler 27-5-78-3; Sammy 18-3-56-1; Shillingford 28-7-70-2; Martin 1-0-4-0; Smith 2-0-5-0.
Windward Islands first innings
D. Smith c Lambert b Perry 51
R. Currency c Baugh b . Richardson 2
C. Emmanuel lbw Bernard 28
K. Martin c&b Perry 0
S. Fedee not out 9
R. Lewis not out 26
Extras: 13
TOTAL: (for four wkts) 121
Fall: 1-13, 2-85, 3-85, 4-85.
Bowling: Powell 9-1-24-0; Richardson 8-2-23-1; Gayle 6-3-11-0; Perry 14-3-29-2; Bernard 6-2-30-1; Brown 2-1-2-0.
