GRENVILLE, Grenada (CMC) – Andre Russell followed up another decisive bowling performance from Odean Brown to put Jamaica within reach of victory against Trinidad & Tobago, and their third straight hold on the WICB regional first-class championship. Russell snared three wickets for 27 runs in an opening burst of eight overs, as T&T, following on 235 behind on first innings, reached 66 for four in their second innings at the close on the second day of their final match at Progress Park.

Leg-spinner Brown had bowled Jamaica into the ascendancy, when he collected five for 46 from 21 overs, as T&T were dismissed for a modest 144, replying to their opponents’ first innings total of 379.

Jamaica entered the match knowing that they needed a victory to overtake Barbados, and hang onto the title that they have made their own over the past two seasons.

The Jamaicans started the match in second place on 48 points – nine behind the Barbadians – who do not even have the chance to fight for the Championship, since they drew a bye in the final round.

Russell made the breakthrough for Jamaica in the second innings, when opener William Perkins was comprehensively beaten and bowled for nine.

Fortune did not, however, favour the 21-year-old fast bowler, when he bowled Sherwin Ganga, on one, off a no-ball.

But Russell bowling fast, full, and straight continued to make an impact, when he removed Justin Guillen for 27 and T&T captain Daren Ganga for one – both lbw – in quick succession to leave his opponents wobbling on 46 for three.

Jason Dawes then added to the woes, when he bowled Jason Mohammed for five with a well-pitched delivery that moved back, and extracted the batsman’s middle-stump, as T&T sunk to 57 for four, as Jamaica ended the day far more positively than they started.

The Jamaicans had resumed from their overnight total of 348 for seven, and were dismissed after 40 minutes.

None of the Jamaican tail-end batsmen distinguished themselves, and T&T leg-spinner Imran Khan snared two of the last three scalps to finish with seven for 124 from 26.3 overs, and push his season-leading tally to 46.

Jamaica’s bowlers – led by Brown and his off-spin bowling, unrelated namesake Bevon Brown – transformed the mood, and the game with steady, if not spectacular spin bowling.

Andrew Richardson gave Jamaica the early breakthrough, when Perkins was caught behind for six, as T&T reached 51 for one at lunch.

After the interval, Jamaica turned the screws, and T&T ran into trouble at 132 for seven at tea.

Jason Dawes triggered the decline after lunch, when he had Justin Guillen caught at extra cover for 31.

The two Browns then stepped in with Odean trapping Jason Mohammed lbw for five, and Bevon having Daren Ganga caught at forward short leg for 31 to leave T&T on 85 for four.

Jamaica allowed T&T to safely cross over the 100-run threshold, but the Browns snapped up the scalps of Sherwin Ganga caught at slip for 11, Darren Cruickshank stumped recklessly charging down the pitch for 16, and Khan caught behind for a duck to send their opponents sliding from 112 for four to 112 for seven.

After the break, Jamaica needed less than half hour to polish off the T&T tail-enders with Odean Brown bringing the curtain down, when he had Gibran Mohammed caught at short mid-wicket for 17.
Bevon Brown finished with three for 28 from 16 overs.