BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

Leeward Islands, responding to Jamaica's 209 all out, were 30 without loss at the close on the opening day of their second round TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge match at Warner Park yesterday.

Top scorers for Jamaica were Nkruma Bonner (55), Shacoya Thomas (41) and Andre Creary (36) while Kelbert Walters took 2-37 and Terrence Ward 2-49.

However, an entertaining 63 from Johnson Charles was the highlight of the day in the match between the Windward Islands and Guyana. Charles hit five fours in an innings spanning 159 balls and 174 minutes innings which propelled the Windwards to 235, after they won the toss and elected to bat.

Tail-ender Dawnley Grant hit an unbeaten 40, Joel Mingo scored 28 and skipper Lauron Francois scored 27 to give support.

At the close, Guyana were six for one.

The Windwards opening pair of Lyndon Lawrence and Joey Welcome posted 21 for the first wicket before Guyana made the breakthrough in the ninth over when Lawrence (18) missed an expansive drive and was bowled by off-spinner Clive Andries.

First round century-maker, Donwell Hector, pulled left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul for two savage boundaries in his first over, but in trying to repeat the shot was trapped leg before in the same over for 15 with the score on 38 for two.

Francois, with a century in the last meeting between the teams in Guyana last year, joined Welcome to carry their team to 76 before the skipper, who looked well organised in his 27, chased a wide ball from left-arm wrist spinner Totaram Bishun and was caught behind in the final over before lunch.

After slipping to 89 for four, the Windwards were revived by a 57-run fifth wicket stand between Charles and Joel Mingo (28).

Stephen Jacobs, who finished with three for 25, trapped Mingo leg before wicket after he had struck four fours and a six from 57 balls and 10 runs later, Dalton Polius (1) was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from short-mid wicket by Rajendra Chandrika.

Charles followed up his 22 and 46 in the first round against Barbados by posting a maiden fifty and along with Audy Alexander, a member of the Windwards' championship winning Under-15 team, took the score to 175 for six at tea to help their side to their eventual score.

Totaram Bishun claimed two for 37 and Permaul, two for 72.