By Tony Becca, Contributing EditorJAMAICA CONFIRMED their place in the final of the Carib Beer International Challenge Trophy when the four-day semi-final match against the Windward Islands ended in a tame draw at Alpart yesterday, with angry fans and match referee Hugh Perry bringing the proceedings to an early finish.
With Jamaica on 372 for five, leading by 461 and still batting with Keith Hibbert on 102 after ticking off his maiden first-class century, and Carlton Baugh Jnr. on 40, fans at the western section of the ground threw bottles onto the field 12 minutes after tea in protest against Jamaica's decision to continue batting.
26.2 OVERS STILL TO BE BOWLED
With the players and umpires gathered around the pitch, match referee Perry walked out, spoke to umpires Eddie Nichols of Guyana and Basil Morgan of Montserrat, and ruled the match over with 26.2 overs still to be bowled.
Final score: Jamaica 338 and 372 for five, Windward Islands 249.
Going into the day's play with one foot in the door after taking first innings lead, the match apparently heading for a draw, and first innings lead enough to take them into the final, Jamaica, resuming on 145 for two, leading by 217 and playing it safe, refused to give the Windward Islands any chance whatsoever.
To the disappointment of the fans, some of whom had gathered at the back of the Press Box and close to the players' enclosure during the tea interval shouting their disapproval at the home team's action, Jamaica batted for 252 minutes and 63.4 overs and appeared set to bat out the day.
Some fans were calling for a Jamaica declaration from as early as lunch when the home team were on 273 for three and leading by 326 runs after scoring 92 runs off 32 overs.
Although the odds were against it, the Windward Islands had an outside chance of victory when the day's play got under way. Victory, however, depended on a total eclipse of Jamaica, that depended on an early break-through, and with top fast bowler Fernix Thomas out of action due to a slight groin injury, with Tamar Lambert batting well and Donovan Pagon riding his luck, that never happened.
By the time Pagon, playing lazily to a delivery from pacer Darren Sammy that pitched on a reasonable length outside the offstump, edged a catch to wicketkeeper Lyndon James at 184 for three, it was too late.
FEATHERBED PITCH
The lead was then 273, the Windward Islands were obviously out of it, and with no pressure on them, with the bowlers there for the picking, the Jamaica batsmen but for David Bernard Jnr. who drove left-arm pacer Deighton Butler to Craig Emmanuel in the covers before he had scored proceeded to enjoy themselves with Lambert, Hibbert and Baugh preening themselves on a featherbed pitch and in bright sunshine.
Resuming on 20, Lambert, cutting, driving, hooking and sweeping with relish, hit 10 fours and one six a lovely pull over square-leg off Butler before, with a maiden first-class century apparently his for the taking, he drove at Butler and was caught by Rawl Lewis at backward point for a career-best 82 at 257 for four.
With Bernard going at 259 for five, Hibbert and Baugh batted to the end with Hibbert stroking nine fours and hitting three sixes and Baugh, batting for 55 deliveries, stroking two fours and one six a lovely drive off offspinner Shane Shillingford over extra-cover.
