By Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
Rose and Samuels
DISCOVERY BAY:
JAMAICA COMPLETED the formalities and wrapped up a tidy win in the Carib Beer Series against West Indies B by an innings and 76 runs yesterday at the Kaiser Sports Club.
It took the hosts a mere 36 minutes to w rap up the final two wickets after the B Boys resumed at 119 for eight and chasing 207 to make Jamaica take a second turn at the crease.
Andrew Richardson (one run) played a lacklustre shot to Nehemiah Perry at mid-off off the sparingly-used Audley Sanson and Ryan Thomas (nine) was trapped in front of the pegs by all-rounder Gareth Breese to signal the demise of the B team in just a little more than two days.
After the match, Jamaica skipper Robert Samuels lauded his fast bowlers - particularly man of the match Daren Powell who finished with match figures of 7-66 - but also made mention of 'missing in action' Franklyn Rose.
Sanson bowled only eight overs in the match and when asked if Rose was the preferred option as the second fast bowler in the Jamaica line-up, Samuels was nonplussed.
"We haven't heard from him (Rose) since we came back from Barbados," Samuels said shortly before rain came tumbling down.
"Probably he has retired again," Samuels said of the former West Indian paceman apparently suffering from an elbow injury.
The 12 points put Jamaica back in the hunt for a semi-final berth in the series and Samuels is confident the team can attain that goal despite a tough road trip to Guyana and then Trinidad.
"We have to win all our games from now," he said. "However, I think we prefer playing away. I think some of the guys are a little timid playing at home - maybe it's the crowds.
"Guyana are also without their big guns and we are going there full of confidence after this win."
Windies B coach Roderick Estwick said his team had to go back to the drawingboard after the humbling loss.
"We never batted well - our shot selection was poor and we were apprehensive," Estwick said. "Well done to Jamaica though, they played well."
The coach did, however, single out his Jamaican wicketkeeper-batsman Carlton Baugh for special praise.
"He has been outstanding for us," he said of Baugh who made 50 and 21 against Jamaica and kept relatively tidily.
"He's made four 50s so far for us - outstanding. Young (Aneil) Kanhai and (Andrew) Richardson have also done well and have shown great promise."
Jamaica's next Carib Beer series match is against Guyana at Bourda on Friday.
Report courtesy of Breezes Runaway Bay
