By Tony Becca, Senior Sports EditorJAMAICA opened their bid for a successful defence of the title with an impressive performance on the first day of the Busta Cup cricket match against the Windward Islands at Sabina Park yesterday.
At stumps, Jamaica, attacking with spin for long periods, looking sharp in the field and a bit lucky at the crease, were 17 without loss in reply to the Windward Islands 168.
On a cool day and before a handful of spectators, Jamaica won the toss, sent the visitors to bat and but for a stubborn 57-run sixth-wicket partnership between Junior Murray and captain Rawl Lewis dominated the proceedings with offspinner Gareth Breese preening himself with five wickets for 40 runs off 29.5 accurate overs and left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham bagging three for 29 off 16 probing overs.
For those who enjoy the subtle art of spin bowling, Sabina Park was the place to be yesterday as Breese and Cunningham, along with the more accomplished Nehemiah Perry who supported with one for 33 off 18 overs of offspin, cornered the batsmen of the Windward Islands on a slow pitch and cut them down one by one.
The first wicket went to fast bowler Franklyn Rose when Romel Currency attempted an ambitious square-drive in the fifth over, edged a catch to wicketkeeper Keith Hibbert and went away for two at 11 for one.
Wicket number two went to Breese when John Sylvester, who played a few handsome strokes, including a lovely hook off pacer Denville McKenzie, went at the offspinner and was caught for 21 at 55 for two by Perry coming off the midwicket boundary.
With Breese dropping the ball on a good length from the south, captain Robert Samuels introduced Cunningham from the north at 61 for two off 25 overs and for the next 23 overs on either side of lunch, it was nothing but spin as the Windward Islands skidded to 89 for five.
Cunningham, who picked up his three wickets while conceding only 19 runs during a spell of 13 overs, made it 71 for three in the 34th over when the left-handed Devon Smith was brilliantly caught by McKenzie at midwicket for 34, 89 for four when he bowled John Eugene for 10, and 89 for five when Balty Watt, on zero, drove a low catch to Brenton Parchment at short extra-cover.
At that stage, the Windward Islands were on the run and Jamaica looked really good.
Murray, however, is a fighter born and bred, and with Lewis turning up with a captain's knock, the two Test players, one better known for his wicketkeeping, the other for his legspin, pushed back Jamaica with a solid partnership before, 12 minutes after tea, Murray, on 39, drove a low return catch to Breese to make it 146 for six.
Lewis battled on to the end for a well played, undefeated 45 but with the ball spinning and bouncing appreciably, Breese and Perry were too good for the lower order and the innings was over 52 minutes after Murray's dismissal.
Breese finished off the innings in style by picking up the last three wickets in five deliveries without conceding a run and leaving himself with a chance of completing a hat-trick in the Windward Islands second innings.
Left with 42 minutes to end of the day's play, Jamaica batted cautiously but were fortunate not to lose a wicket when Leon Garrick, on one, drove at pacer Fernix Thomas and Balty Watt muffed the catch in the covers.
