BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Anthony Martin hurt Jamaica and captain Devon Thomas followed up with a responsible unbeaten half-century, to put Leeward Islands Hurricanes in sight of their first win of the WICB PCL here yesterday.In pursuit of 165 for victory at Warner Park, the hosts were 139 for six, requiring a further 26 runs to pull off what will be huge victory especially coming on the heels of eight straight defeats in the competition.

They were, however, tottering on the verge of collapse at 40 for four just after tea before Thomas arrived to unfurl an excellent unbeaten 78 – his second half-century of the game – to steady the innings.
Earlier, Jamaica were dismissed for 274 after resuming the day on 122 for three, with wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton top scoring with 72, Brandon King getting 39 and tail-ender Damion Jacobs finishing unbeaten on 28.
The right-handed Walton, unbeaten on four at the start, crunched nine fours and two sixes off 179 balls in a little over three hours at the crease, to complete his second half-century of the game.
He stretched the fourth wicket stand with King to 76 before putting on a crucial 49 for the seventh wicket with Jacobs who battled 82 deliveries and struck five fours in his innings.
However, off-spinner Cornwall made key strikes to finish with five for 109 while leg-spinner Martin supported with four for 76.
Their efforts saw Jamaica decline from 183 for three, losing their last seven wickets for 91 runs.
Set a relatively easy target for victory, the Leewards were in early trouble when Lyndel Richardson was lbw to fast bowler Jason Dawes for one in the second over and then Sherwin Peters was prised out by lively pacer Marquino Mindley in the third over for ten with only 11 runs on the board.
Thomas and Montcin Hodge (13) stemmed the flow of wickets with a stand of 29 for the third wicket that carried the Leewards to tea at 24 for two.
After the break, however, Hodge and Jahmar Hamilton (0) fell to Jacobs (3-46) in the same over to leave the Leewards in danger of another dramatic batting collapse.
But Thomas came to the fore, putting on 63 for the fifth wicket with Jacques Taylor (10) and then an even more important 31 with Jeremiah Louis (10 not out) in an unbroken seventh wicket stand.
So far, Thomas has hit eight fours in an innings requiring 130 balls.

Scoreboard:
JAMAICA 1st innings 175
Leewards 1st Innings 285
Jamaica 2nd Innings
(overnight 122 for three)
S Thomas lbw b Cornwell 24
J Campbell c wkp Hamilton b Cornwall 26
J Blackwood c Cornwall b Martin 27
B King c wkp Hamilton b Martin 39
+C Walton c Taylor b Martinn72
*T Lambert c (sub) A Saunders b Martin 17
D Bernard lbw b Tonge 0
D Jacobs not out 28
J Dawes lbw b Cornwall 5
M Mindley c Richardson b Martin 16
O Brown c Tonge b Cornwall 1
Extras (b14, lb5) 19
TOTAL (all out, 94.1 overs) 274
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-63, 3-107, 4-183, 5-196, 6-197, 7-246, 8-252, 9-272, 10-274
Bowling: Tonge 8-1-37-1, Boatswain 5-0-23-0, Martin 40-17-76-4, Cornwall 40.1-12-109-5, Peters 1-0-10-0.
LEEWARDS 2nd Innings (target: 165 runs)
L Richardson lbw b Dawes 1
S Peters c Lambert b Mindley 10
M Hodge lbw b Jacobs 13
*D Thomas not out 78
J Hamilton b Jacobs 0
J Taylor lbw Campbell 10
R Cornwall st Walton b Jacobs 4
J Louis not out 10
Extras (b9, lb2, nb2) 13
TOTAL (6 wkts, 44 overs) 139
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-40, 4-40, 5-103, 6-108.
Bowling: Mindley 9-4-15-1, Dawes 6-1-19-1, Jacobs 13-3-46-3, Brown 9-0-29-0, Campbell 5-2-8-1, Bernard 2-0-11-0.

Position: Leewards require 26 runs for victory