BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Four-time defending champions Jamaica were poised to complete a big win over Combined Campuses and Colleges on the final day of their final round, Regional Four-Day match at 3Ws Oval today. Set 321 for victory on the third day here Sunday, CCC, a mere shadow of the side that finished runners-up to Jamaica last season, were 162 for eight at the close, still 159 runs adrift of their target.
Jamaica are gearing up for a semi-final clash with Guyana on home turf at Sabina Park, starting March 30, as they seek to emulate the region’s most celebrated nation Barbados in a record five straight titles.
A victory here today will ensure that Jamaica finish the preliminary round with a perfect record of six wins from as many outings.
Perhaps by sheer co-incidence, Jamaica’s quest for victory yesterday was held up by two of their nationals, Chadwick Walton on 29 and Jason Dawes, who was on one in a partnership of 11 in 7.4 overs, which has so far lasted 23 minutes.
The top-score so far, as was the case in the first innings, has come from yet another Jamaican in Shacaya Thomas, who followed a knock of 78 with 41, which came in 154 minutes off 97 balls with six boundaries before becoming a victim of the tall leg-spinner Odean Brown, who has four for 22 off ten overs.
Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller has taken two for 38.
Earlier, Jamaica were bowled out for 257 off 71.1 overs in their second innings – 14 minutes after lunch – having started the day on 164 for four.
Again, co-incidentally, Jamaica were also dismissed in 71.1 overs in their first innings total of 200 all out.
Captain Tamar Lambert top-scored in the second innings with 55 after starting the day on eight with the score 164 for three.
The heavy-set Lambert was ninth out, leg before wicket as he essayed a sweep off leg-spinner Akeem Dewar, a Jamaican as well. He was at the crease for 182 minutes, faced 114 balls and struck six boundaries after reaching his half-century in 171 minutes off 106 deliveries, also with six fours.
Seasoned off-spinner Ryan Austin took five for 89 to end the season with 38 wickets.
Danza Hyatt, who resumed on 33, was caught and bowled by Austin for 39 to make it 176 for four.
Next, without addition, David Bernard was caught at long-off by Jason Holder running from long-on, off Austin for nought.
Wicketkeeper Horace Miller was hit wicket off Austin for three and Nikita Miller was run out for one as he and Lambert tried to complete a third run, leaving the score on 191 for seven.
There was a stand of 42 between Lambert and Andrew Richardson before the latter was caught at long-on by Holder off Austin for 13.
Lambert’s dismissal was followed in the next over by that of Brown, who was caught at deep midwicket by Dewar running off the boundary off Holder for ten.
In the CCC chase, Yannick Ottley was run out for six with the score 20 before captain Kyle Corbin was leg before wicket by medium-pacer Bernard for 35 to make it 61 for two.
Veteran left-hander Floyd Reifer extended his poor run of form when he was beaten in flight and bowled middle stump by left-arm spinner Nikita Miller for 13 as he advanced, to make it 88 for three.
Nekoli Parris, pushing forward, was leg before wicket to Nikita Miller for seven.
After Thomas’ dismissal, Holder (7) edged a leg-break from Brown to Horace Miller; left-hander Kevin McClean was leg before wicket on the back foot to Brown for two and Dewar was caught at second slip by Brenton Parchment off Brown for nought at 151 for eight.

JAMAICA 1st innings 200
CCC 1st Innings 137
JAMAICA 2nd Innings
(overnight 164 for four)
B. Parchment c sub (R. Reifer) b Dewar 41
X. Marshall st Walton b Austin 23
D. Pagon lbw b Dewar 44
D. Hyatt c & b Austin 39
*T. Lambert lbw b Dewar    55
D. Bernard c Holder b Austin    0
+H. Miller hit wicket b Austin    3
N. Miller run out 1
A. Richardson c Holder b Austin 13
O. Brown c Dewar b Holder 10
S. Cotterel not out 0
Extras (b7, lb4, w3, nb14) 28
TOTAL (all out, 71.1 overs) 257
Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-105, 3-119, 4-176, 5-176, 6-182, 7-191, 8-233, 9-257, 10-257.
Bowling: McClean 7-0-29-0, Dawes 8-3-23-0, Austin 25-3-89-5, Holder 9.1-2-40-1, Dewar 17-4-55-3, Ottley 5-0-10-0.
CCC 2nd innings
Y. Ottley run out 6
*K. Corbin lbw b Bernard 35
S. Thomas lbw b Brown 41
F. Reifer b N. Miller 13
N. Parris lbw b Miller 7
+C. Walton not out 29
J. Holder c wk H. Miller b Brown 7
K. McClean lbw b Brown 2
A. Dewar c Parchment b Brown 0
J. Dawes not out 1
Extras (b4, lb7, w1, nb9) 21
TOTAL (8 wks, 54 overs) 162
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-61, 3-88, 4-102, 5-129, 6-143, 7-145, 8-151.
Bowling: Richardson 12-4-34-0, Cotterel 2-0-24-0, Bernard 11-3-33-1, N. Miller 19-6-38-2, Brown 10-3-22-4.
Position: CCC need other 159 for victory.