Jamaica's captain Wavell Hinds... scored even 100. File

CAYON, St Kitts (CMC): Leeward Islands grabbed first innings points over Jamaica despite a century from Wavell Hinds, but the visitors had struck back by the close on the third day to leave the first round Carib Beer Series encounter at St Mary's Park interestingly poised yesterday.

Resuming from their overnight 165 for three in pursuit of Leewards' 396, Jamaica were dismissed for 353, with captain Hinds surviving two chances to score an even 100.

Jamaica's fast bowlers, however, brought them back into the contest in the final session, reducing the hosts to 122 for five, a lead of 165 runs going into today's final day.

Unbeaten on 30 at the start of play, Hinds rode his luck en route to his milestone, as he kept Jamaica in the hunt for precious first innings points.

Twice put down

He was twice put down by wicketkeeper Jason Williams, who dropped the West Indies batsman at 57 off pacer Adam Sanford and at 82, off medium pacer Carl Simon.

Hinds lost his overnight partner David Bernard early in the morning session when he was lbw for 10 to Sanford, after Jamaica had added just five to their total.

He found a partner in Tamar Lambert and they added 143 for the fifth wicket that put the visitors in sight of first innings lead.

The right-handed Lambert stroked 10 fours and one six, in an innings spanning 164 minutes and 113 balls. His dismissal, lbw to Simon with the score on 313, sparked a collapse which saw Jamaica lose their last six wickets for 40 runs.

Hinds followed Lambert to the pavilion after he attempted to cut fast bowler Gavin Tonge and spooned a catch to Shane Jeffers at point. He batted for 234 minutes, faced 142 balls and struck 10 fours and one six.

Fast bowlers Jermaine Lawson and Daren Powell then tore through the Leewards top order to leave the hosts tottering at 54 for five, before Runako Morton (44) and Omari Banks combined in an unbroken stand of 68 to halt the decline.

LEEWARDS 1st Innings 396

JAMAICA 1st Innings

(165 for three overnight)

W. Hinds c Jeffers b Tonge 100

D. Bernard lbw b Sanford 10

T. Lambert lbw b Simon 70

+C. Baugh c wkp Williams b Tonge 5

D. Powell c Tonge b Simon

J. Taylor c & b Simon 15

J. Lawson c Liburd b Banks 5

A. Dwyer not out 7

Extras (b6, lb6, nb4) 16

TOTAL (all out, 106.4 overs) 353

Fall of wickets: 1-70, 2-127, 3-127, 4-170, 5-313, 6-323, 7-324, 8-339, 9-340, 10-353.

Bowling: Tonge 21-5-61-2 (nb1), Sanford 27-4-82-2 (nb1), Simon 24-5-73-4, Banks 23.4-4-88-2, Willett 11-0-37-0 (nb2).

LEEWARDS 2nd Innings

A. Richards b Lawson 5

S. Jeffers c Dwyer b Lawson 14

R. Morton not out 44

S. Joseph b Taylor 0

S. Liburd c & b Powell 18

T. Willett lbw b Powell 0

O. Banks not out 28

Extras (b4, lb7, nb2) 13

TOTAL (5 wkts, 32 overs) 122

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-24, 3-24, 4-54, 5-54.

Bowling: Lawson 9-0-30-2, Taylor 7-1-33-1, Powell 8-1-27-2, Samuels 6-1-15-0, Dwyer 2-0-6-0.

Position: Leewards lead by 165 runs with five second innings wickets in hand.

Toss: Jamaica.

Umpires: Luther Kelly, Clyde Duncan.