BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Jamaica, led by a hundred from Carlton Baugh Jr, fortified their standing in their 10th round match of the WICB regional four-day competition, when they set Barbados 515 for victory yesterday.

Baugh retired hurt on 108 - his 10th first-class hundred - and there were career-best knocks from Nikita Miller and Daren Powell as Jamaica, leading by 117 runs on first innings, declared their second innings on 397 for eight.

Miller scored 86 and Powell made 69 in a whirlwind seventh wicket stand of 115 in which they completely demoralised the Barbadian bowlers.

The visitors then collected a couple of late wickets to leave Barbados on 107 for two at the close on the third day of the match at Kensington Oval and the home team's title hopes in ruins.

Not out on 45

At stumps, Dale Richards was not out on 45 and Kirk Edwards was not out on four.

Baugh reached his hundred from 168 balls, when he flicked Kevin Stoute to deep fine leg for a single. He shared 67 for the sixth wicket West Indies batsman Brendan Nash (47), then put on 136 for the seventh wicket before he retired hurt, after he was struck on the forearm by a short, rising ball from Javon Searles.

Jamaica started the day well, when Baugh and Nash extended their partnership before Nikolai Charles made the breakthrough.

Nash gave the young leg-spinner a return catch to leave Jamaica on 145 for six, but Baugh and Miller soon derailed Barbados' fightback, when they started to play a number of unorthodox strokes.

They carried Jamaica to 201 for six at lunch and carried on smartly with their ball-beating after the interval before Baugh left the field with his injured arm.

Powell joined Miller and they continued to play their strokes freely with the ragged Barbadians sinking to abject levels of bowling and fielding that were an embarrassment to the celebrated legacy of the island's cricket.

Powell and Miller fell in quick succession after they took Jamaica to 370 for six at tea, before the declaration came about 20 minutes after the break.

Early scalp

The embattled Powell should have removed Dale Richards in the first over, but Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert put the Barbados opener down at first slip. But Andrew Richardson provided the Jamaicans with an early scalp, when he removed Barbados captain Jason Haynes, caught at third slip for four.

The Jamaicans were put on their heels, when West Indies batsman Ryan Hinds came to the crease and started to attack the bowling along with Richards in a stand of 76 for the second wicket.

Dave Bernard Jr put an end to the assault, when he bowled Hinds around his legs for 39 to make Barbados' challenge to save the match even more difficult.

Prior to this round of matches, Jamaica led the standings with 72 points, 12 clear of Windward Islands, with Barbados in third on 54.

Guyana tottering

AT ALBION, Guyana: Guyana, opting to bat against Leeward Islands, reached 254-5 for five at the close of the third day of their rain-hit 10th round WICB Regional Four-day match at the Albion Sports Complex yesterday.

The first two days of this game were abandoned because rain left the outfield water-logged.

SCORE: GUYANA 254-5 (Narsingh Deonarine 94, Assad Fudadin 51 not out, Chris Barnwell 35, Sewnarine Chattergoon 32; Justin Athanaze 2-42).

Windwards in trouble

AT KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: The Windward Islands, set 301 runs to beat Combined Campuses and Colleges, reached 31 for three at the close of play on the third day of their 10th round WICB Regional Four-day match at Arnos Vale yesterday.