- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Kingston's Kevin Riley plays a late cut during his innings of 44 against JDF in their Supreme Ventures Super Cup match at Sabina Park yesterday.
A DAY after he was given the green light to return to international cricket, West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson bowled St. Catherine to an impressive first innings lead over Westmoreland in the Supreme Ventures Super Cup at Chedwin Park yesterday.
Recently recovering from back problems, the 22-year-old Lawson, who has been sidelined for the past year after he was reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over his bowling action, ended with figures of 5-23 from 13.3 overs to shoot down Westmoreland for 102, a total which St. Catherine CC replied to with 188 for four at the close.
Lawson's five-wicket haul yesterday was supported by Jamaica legspinner Odean Brown (3-36) as only Chris Miller, 22, made any real contribution to Westmoreland's small total.
In St. Catherine's innings, Dean Morgan, 83 not out, Tamar Lambert, 38, Keith Hibbert, 31, and Renford Pinnock, 26, have been the primary run scorers.
AT ALPART: Elsewhere, a swashbuckling innings from West Indies reserve wicket-keeper/batsman Carlton Baugh, Jr. highlighted Melbourne's first innings lead over St. Elizabeth.
Baugh, who played his last Test for the West Indies against South Africa in late December, struck nine sixes and 11 fours off only 108 balls as Melbourne replied to St. Elizabeth's 148 with 244 for four at the close.
Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, a former STETHS WILCO/Headley Cup player, first destroyed the parish of his birth when he took 5-23. He was supported by Yanick Elliott (2-24) and Llewellyn Meggs (2-40) as only Troy Powell, 35, Shawn Findlay, 25, and Shane Powell, 23, made any worthwhile contributions.
AT SABINA PARK: Honours were shared between defending champions the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and hosts Kingston on the opening day.
At stumps, which were drawn early due to bad light, JDF were 43 for two in response to Kingston's first innings total of 230.
Kingston were cruising at 74 for one before a middle-order slump triggered by the spin of Soldiers' captain Paul Brown (4-68 off 31 overs) reduced them to a precarious 145 for seven. However, Kerry Scott (38 not out) and young 'keeper Darren McCallum put on 77 for the eighth wicket to see their side post a reasonable total.
Opener Kevin Riley (44) and Simon Jackson (26) also made useful contributions for the Tigers. Brown was assisted by Warren Medwynter (4-20) and Wayne Cuff (2-45) in skittling out the hosts.
In their turn at bat, the JDF got off to a horrendous start and were two wickets down for seven before Cuff (20 not out) and Damion Gray (11 not out) saw them through to stumps with few other scares. Pacemen Audley Sanson (1-18) and Roy Williams (1-25) picked up a wicket apiece for Kingston both caught behind by McCallum.
AT KENSINGTON PARK: Manchester, batting first, were 310 for six when stumps were drawn. Matthew Sinclair, who moved back to Manchester from Kingston, topscored with 89 and, along with Lancelott Warren, 65, Corey Phillips, 40 not out, the Wavell Hinds-led Kensington could be asked to chase too much for first innings honours.
AT NELSON OVAL: Former Jamaica youth players Ryon Smith and Chadwick Walton scored half centuries as Lucas held the upper hand over Boys' Town.
In Lucas' innings, Smith, 97, fell three runs short of a century while Walton, 82, Delroy Morgan, 31, were also among the runs against Marlon Keating (2-22), Kirk Thompson (2-86) and Andre Clarke (2-47).
Boys' Town were struggling on 65 for four, Omar Burke has so far taken 2-17.
