ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, (CMC) – Their bowlers, led by Jerome Taylor, helped three-time defending champions Jamaica to capture first innings points from Windward Islands, and take control of their match in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday. Taylor is making a comeback to top-level cricket, following injury that sidelined him for the second half of last year, and he collected four wickets for 47 runs from 14 overs, as Windwards, replying to Jamaica’s first innings total of 214, were dismissed for 115 on the third day of their rain-affected second round match.

Dave Bernard Jr supported with three for 17 from 10.2 overs, and leg-spinner Odean Brown took threee for 32 from 12 overs.
Keddy Lesporis led the way for the Windwards with 33, Donwell Hector made 28, and opener Tyrone Theophile got 23.

The Jamaicans then reached 27 for one in their second innings when bad light stopped play early at the Queen’s Park Stadium to take an overall lead of 126 into the final day on Monday.

The visitors were set back early, when opener Danza Hyatt was caught behind off Nelon Pascal for two, but Marlon Samuels joined Simon Jackson, and they navigated the remaining overs until the light became an issue.

The game moved at an incredible pace, after Jamaica continued from their overnight total of 177 for six, following a complete washout of Saturday’s second day.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Chadwick Walton hit the top score of 45 and Bernard made 37 in a stand of 71 for the seventh wicket that beefed-up the Jamaica first innings total.

Mervin Matthew, with three for 29 from 15 overs, and Kenroy Peters, three for 31 from 27.1 overs, were the most successful Windwards bowlers.
Taylor then removed opener Johnson Charles for four and fellow Grenadian Andre Fletcher for six to leave Windwards wobbling on 26 for two at lunch.

After the interval, Brown grabbed his three wickets – Thophile lbw, Liam Sebastien, the Windwards captain, bowled for a duck, and Keddy Lesporis caught close to the wicket – and Bernard scalped Lindon James for 11 to leave the Windwards tottering on 104 for six at tea.

After the break, incisive bowling from Taylor and Bernard ensured there was to be no comeback story from the Windwards, as they lost their last four wickets for seven runs.
Windwards entered the match joint-fifth with Guyana on four points, following a 33-run defeat in their opening match against Combined Campuses & Colleges, after gaining first innings points.

Jamaica were co-leaders with the CCC and England Lions on 12 points, following a 165-run victory over Guyana at the Alpart Sports Club on home soil.
The Jamaicans have won three of their last four regional first-class matches against the Windwards.