Keith Hibbert ... attacking 81.THE VALLEY, CMC:
DEFENDING CUP champions Jamaica got big half-centuries from David Bernard and Keith Hibbert to seize first innings honours over the Leeward Islands on the third day of their first round Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series match at the Ronald Webster Park yesterday.
Bernard's classy 91 and Hibbert, with 81, led Jamaica's batting and - responding to the Leewards' 357 all out - they closed at 403 for eight, with Darren Powell not out on 20 and Nehemiah Perry on 14.
Medium pacer Kerry Jeremy is the top Leewards bowler so far, with three for 70.
Bernard and his captain Robert Samuels batted resolutely at the start of the day and stretched the overnight position of 152 for three with a century stand, repelling the Leewards bowling attack.
The 21-year-old Bernard, a tall elegant right-hander, quickly achieved his maiden first-class half-century with seven boundaries and dominated a 127-run fourth-wicket stand with Samuels before falling nine short of a hundred.
He was trying to hit off-spinner Omari Banks through the on-side but Alex Adams - at short mid-wicket - snatched a sharp chance, knocking the ball up and holding the catch on the second attempt before lunch.
Bernard drove fluently throughout his 151-ball innings that included one six, and 13 fours, including a cracking hook off pacer Carl Simon that ripped to the square-leg boundary.
The Jamaicans lost Samuels at the start of the second session but strode steadily towards first innings points in a productive period before tea.
Samuels departed caught at mid-on by Adam Sanford off Adams for 45 -- not adding to his lunch-time score - in a watchful knock that lasted just over four hours, and contained four fours and one six.
Keith Hibbert took charge in a sixth-wicket stand with Mario Ventura and rushed to his fourth first-class 50 - off 73 balls - with his sixth boundary before tea.
Hibbert was particularly severe after the new ball was taken on pacers Sanford and Jeremy, who was spanked for two cracking boundaries, a cut that sped square of the wicket, and a stylish pull to mid-wicket by the West Indies reserve wicket-keeper.
From a tea-time position of 323 for five, Hibbert and Ventura thwarted the Leewards in a 115-run sixth-wicket partnership that drew the Jamaicans level on first innings.
Off-spinner Adams dislodged Ventura (37) at 357 for six when the left-hander stretched forward, over-balanced and was smartly stumped after a leg-side take by wicket-keeper Joel Simmonds.
Hibbert appeared set for a maiden first-class century but fell 19 runs short when his low drive off Jeremy was smartly snatched low by Stuart Williams at short cover.
He batted for 186 minutes and faced 161 balls, counting seven boundaries in his innings.
Jeremy snared his third wicket when he trapped Franklyn Rose (2) leg before wicket with a slower ball at 369 for eight.
Powell then survived an unsettling period of short-pitched bowling from Sanford, but soon grew in confidence and with the experienced Perry, added 34 runs before the close.
Adams (2-45), Banks (2-109), and Sanford (1-102) are the other wicket-takers for the Leewards entering the final day of a game heading towards a draw.
