BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC: An incisive spell of off-spin bowling by Dalton Polius justified the Windward Islands decision to insert Jamaica and saw them to a strong position on the opening day of their fifth round TCL West Indies Under-19 Challenge encounter yesterday.
Polius grabbed eight for 96 to help dismiss the second placed Jamaica for 209 runs in their first innings at the Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex.
The diminutive St Lucian, playing in his third tournament at this level, bowled unchanged in the second session to undermine Jamaica after they had gotten off to a sound start with openers Horace Miller and Christie Jones getting even fifties.
In reply, Windwards had raced to 75 for no loss at the close with Lindon Lawrence having struck six fours and a six so far in his 37, while Wayne Harper was unbeaten on 31 with five fours.
Blazing start
Jamaica got off to a blazing start with their openers Miller and Jones helping themselves to boundaries at will. It took them just 64 minutes to race to the half century as the Windwards opening bowlers wasted the new ball.
Miller was the first to go when he tried to forc Audain through the off side with the total on 81. Looking to give himself room for a delivery that was too close, he succeeded only in giving wicketkeeper Lawrence an easy catch.
In all, he batted for 151 minutes and faced 115 balls, while registering eight sweetly timed fours and a towering six. Polius triggered the Jamaica batting collapse shortly after lunch as they rapidly declined from 94 for one to 179 for six at tea.
He had Jones caught at long on looking to clear the boundary and in his very next over he trapped Shacoya Thomas leg before wicket without scoring to a flatter, straighter ball.
The Windward Islands had further reasons to celebrate when Nkruma Bonner (5) was dismissed caught at slip by Harper looking to hit Polius through the offside.
Jamaica first Innings
| C. Jones c Grant b Polius | 50 |
| H. Miller c wkp Lawrence b Audain | 50 |
| A. Creary b Polius | 29 |
| S. Thomas lbw b Polius | 0 |
| N. Bonner c Harper b Polius | 5 |
| +D. Green b Polius | 0 |
| M. Hoilette b c and b Polius | 26 |
| J. Merchant b Polius | 19 |
| A. Lindsay b Polius | 18 |
| A. Thompson c wkp Lawrence |
| b Hector | 6 |
| J. Dawes not out | 0 |
| Extras (b2, lb4) | 6 |
| TOTAL (all out) | 209 |
Fall of wicket: 1-81, 2-109, 3-109, 4-125, 5-125, 6-146, 7-187, 8-194, 9-209, 10-209 Bowling: Grant 8-1-31-0, Johnson 6-2-14-0, Narine 6-1-19-0, Polius 36.1-6-96-8, Audain 27-12-38-1, Hector 2-0-5-1. Windwards first innings L. Lawrence not out | 37 |
| W. Harper not out | 31 |
| Extras (lb1, nb6) | 7 |
TOTAL (without loss) | 75 | |
Bowling: Dawes 4-0-35-0, Thompson 3-1-9-0, Hoilette 6-3-6-0, Merchant 3-0-14-0, Bonner 3-1-10-0
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