CAYON, St. Kitts (CMC):

Omari Banks lashed a maiden regional and first-class hundred to star for the Leeward Islands as they drew with Jamaica in their opening round Carib Beer Series match at St. Mary's Park yesterday.

Man-of-the-Match Banks hit an even hundred in the Leewards' second-innings score of 225 that set Jamaica a challenging 269 runs for victory in mid-afternoon.

Visiting Jamaica, who trailed by 43 runs on first innings when they scored 353 on Saturday in response to the Leewards' 396, made an initial rush at the target but the effort collapsed and they finished at 185 for seven.

Pivotal innings

The powerful second-innings century by Banks proved pivotal for the Leewards as they grabbed six points for claiming first-innings honours and left the Jamaicans bottom of the standings with three points, trailing early leaders Barbados (12 points), Leeward Islands (six), Guyana (four), Trinidad & Tobago (four), and Windward Islands (four).

From an overnight 122 for five, the Leeward Islands - with West Indies players Runako Morton and Banks - took the score to 147 before pacer Daren Powell sent back Morton for 55.

Debutant left-arm spinner André Dwyer then bowled Jason Williams (3) at 168 for seven, and while Banks accelerated toward a century, the home side also lost Carl Simon (7) just before the lunch break.

Moving too far inside the line as he tried to play a delivery from West Indies pacer Jerome Taylor to fine leg, Simon had his leg stump knocked over as the score dipped to 207 for eight.

It took the vastly improved international pacer Taylor to remove the rampant Banks. Taylor struck Banks on the toe with a vicious in-swinging yorker and then bowled him next ball with an identical delivery. Banks departed at 223 for nine and Taylor bowled Adam Sanford (2) two runs later to terminate the innings.

LEEWARDS 1st Innings 396 (S Joseph 97; J Lawson 4-72)

JAMAICA 1st Innings 353 (W Hinds 100; C Simon 4-73)

LEEWARDS 2nd Innings (overnight 122 for 5)

A Richards b Lawson