KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Defiant batting, led by Chadwick Walton and Brendan Nash, helped three-time defending champions Jamaica earn a draw with the England Lions in the WICB Regional first-class championship yesterday. Walton led the way with 53 and Nash supported with 49, as Jamaica, chasing a highly improbable, if not impossible target of 275 for victory, finished on 184 for nine in their second innings when their seventh round match came to a close at Sabina Park.

James Harris snared four wickets for 42 runs from 17 overs, and left-arm spinner Danny Briggs collected four for 56 from 19 overs, as the Lions pressed for a victory that would have helped them to finish at the top of the standings.

The final result meant however, that Jamaica gained six points to finish the preliminary competition on 51, and take third place behind the Combined Campuses & Colleges and Trinidad & Tobago, whom they will meet in the semi-finals, starting on Friday.

The Lions earned three points, and also ended with 51 points, but they are only taking part in the league phase of the competition, and return home to Britain today.

Jamaica’s desperate fight to save the match followed another solid batting effort from the Lions, which featured an unbeaten 77 from their captain James Hildreth, 42 from
James Taylor, and 36 not out from Craig Kieswetter that allowed the visitors to declare their second innings on 292 for four about 40 minutes before tea.

Off-spinner Bevon Brown was the most successful Jamaica bowler, ending with three wickets for 96 runs from 30 overs.

The Jamaicans did not start brilliantly, sliding to 47 for three before Walton and Nash carried them to tea on 107 for three.

After the break, Walton and Nash continued merrily, and put on a valuable 99 for the fourth wicket that gave the Jamaicans unrealistic confidence of reaching the target.

Things changed, when Nash was bowled by Briggs about 25 minutes after tea. His innings included eight boundaries from 57 balls in 1 ¼ hours.

Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert came to the crease, and partnered Walton to his 50 from 72 balls, reaching the landmark with a single to mid-wicket off Briggs.

But Lambert was caught off Harris for 24 to trigger a collapse that saw the hosts lose three wickets for two runs in the space of 10 deliveries.

Jamaica were rocking on 177 for seven, and experienced left-hander Wavell Hinds shepherded resolute batting from the tail-enders to help the Jamaicans defy the Lions in the closing stages.

Earlier, Hildreth struck nine fours from 128 balls in his three-hour innings to lead the way for his side, after they started the day on 149 for three.

Hildreth reached his 50 from 84 balls with a single to cover off Brown, who then had Taylor caught at forward short leg, as the Lions reached 260 for four at lunch.

After the interval, Hildreth and Kieswetter chased runs to hasten the Lions to the declaration, and it came when Kieswetter lofted Akeem Dewar over long-on for his second six.