By Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
Windward Islands' spinner Orlanzo Jackson, left, celebrates with team-mates after claiming the final Jamaican wicket and clinching victory for his side at Sabina Park yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
A DEFIANT 134-run stand between Jamaican skipper Robert Samuels and man of the match Nehemiah Perry fell agonisingly short of saving the hosts from an outright loss to the Windward Islands in their Carib Beer Series match at Sabina Park yesterday.
When paceman Daren Powell was trapped leg before by spinner Orlanzo Jackson in the gathering gloom and drizzle yesterday afternoon, the end of a gallant charge for victory was snuffed out with Jamaica - chasing 306 for the win - falling a mere 20 runs short.
Going into the final day, the hosts had erased 110 of the runs but at the expense of four wickets.
Their plight was not assisted when overnight batsmen Maurice Kepple (30 runs) and Mario Ventura (19) fell in the first hour to Jackson and Jamaica were teetering at 136 for six.
However, the resilience and poise of veterans Samuels and Perry came to the fore as they first steadied the slump and then slowly brought their team back into the match before another small crowd at the base of cricket in Kingston.
Perry was the initial aggressor whose 240-minute stay for 76 included 10 boundaries; Samuels was more sublime as he was battling the flu as well as a Windwards' attack bent on victory. However, he opened up as his innings progressed and two scorching cover drives were among his five boundaries in a knock of 57.
The pair negotiated the entire second session and put on 90 to have the side at 253 for six and within sniffing distance of an unlikely win but early into the final stanza, former Test paceman Cameron Cuffy struck critical blows.
First, he induced an edge from Samuels which flew into the safe hands of Devon Smith at first slip to break the stand with the score at 270 and then - three runs later - bowled out Perry's leg peg.
He then trapped Ryan Cunningham for a duck at the same score and the final rights to Jamaica's innings were administered when Jackson beat the defences of Powell.
For the Windwards, it was pretty much a two-man bowling show with Cuffy snaring 5-70 off 33 overs and Jackson 5-89 off 44.
Perry collected the man of the match award for claiming 12 wickets and his half century but the crucial match points went to the visitors.
Now, Jamaica must regroup for their coming Carib Beer encounter this week in Barbados.
Captain Samuels said the team stuck to its plan yesterday but still fell short.
"We had 90 overs to basically get about 190 runs. So we were aiming at two runs an over ... that was the mindset," Samuels said.
"We lost two wickets early and then there was the partnership between myself and Perry, but in the end we were still too far away.
"We have to put this behind us now and look to Barbados. We have some options going to Barbados because Gareth Breese is looking stronger each day and Leon Garrick will also be available. In my opinion, Barbados are the strongest team in the competition.
"They have lots of experience and have lost only two to the World Cup so it won't be easy."
That game starts on Friday.
