Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica, needing a positive result to remain in contention for the three-day TCL Group WICB U-19 Cup, claimed first-innings points from the Leeward Islands yesterday and are in a good position to force an outright win on today's final day.

Resuming on four without loss, in chase of the Leewards competitive first-innings total of 267, Jamaica, behind a century (126) from stand-in skipper, Paul Palmer Jr, 82 not out from in-form all-rounder Akeem Dewar, and 50 not out from wicketkeeper, Kirk Harris, closed the day on 394-6. They now have an overall lead of 127.

valuable partnerships

Paul Palmer Jr, nephew of former national senior batsman, Dixeth Palmer, and son of former national youth representative Paul Palmer Sr, shared in two valuable partnerships. His second-wicket stand with opener Brian Clarke (64) was worth 108. Then with Dewar, Palmer put on 124 for the fifth wicket after Jamaica had slipped from 117-1 to 146-4.

"The plan was to bat for long and play each ball on its merit as coach has been preaching all season, and it paid off," said Palmer Jr, who is captaining the team in the absence of batsman Andre Creary, who was called up to the West Indies team for the first Test against Bangladesh, but is at present nursing a groin injury.

Dewar, in the meantime, who is coming off a Man-of-the-Match performance against Guyana in their second match, said he was looking forward to today.

"It would be good to go on and score my first century, but it is the team that comes first," said Dewar, who was left not out on 70 when the team declared at 292-7 against Guyana. "We will have to assess the situation as a team and make a decision in the morning," added the Kingston College captain.

But with Trinidad and Tobago acquiring first-innings points over Barbados at Up Park Camp, and the Windwards doing likewise against Guyana at Sabina Park in their bottom-of-the-table duel, Jamaica could take a bold step towards claiming the crown should they be able to pull off an outright win, a feat which coach André Coley believes is not out of reach.

Other results

In other results, leaders Trinidad and Tobago claimed first innings points against defending champions Barbados at Up Park Camp, while the Windward Islands claimed first innings and were winning the battle of the minnows against Guyana at Sabina Park.

At Up Park Camp: Barbados - 183 (69.3 over) (Roston Chase 45, Kyle Mayers 42; Yannick Cariah 4-35) and 21-0 (5 overs) (Anthony Alleyne 13 not out, Kraigg Braithwaite 8). Trinidad and Tobago 307 (103.4 overs) (Evin Lewis 109, Nicholas Alexis 85, Jomel Warrican 6-86).

At Sabina Park: Windward Islands - 215 (75.2 over) (Kavem Hodge 42, Dalton Polius 41; Totaram Bishun 7-64) and 163-7 (68) (Sunil Ambris 46, Hubert Joseph 28; Alex Amsterdam 1-13). Guyana 142 (57.5 overs) (Royston Alkins 38, Trevon Griffth 34; Dalton Polius 4-35, Kavem Hodge 2-25).