BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Spin bowlers Keron Cottoy and Dalton Polius combined for eight wickets to wreck Jamaica's batting on a rain-affected opening day of their third-round TCL Group West Indies Under-19 match yesterday.

Jamaica dramatically lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 11 runs and were bowled out for 174 as leg-spinner Cottoy picked up five wickets and off-spinner Polius snared three wickets.

Pacer Gifton Wray hit back for Jamaica before the close to leave the Windwards at four for one in reply on a day that they lost 2-1/2 hours to rain at Kensington Oval.

Choosing to bat after rain delayed the start by 40 minutes, Jamaica's opening pair had gathered 25 runs when medium-pacer Marvin Small dislodged Nick Blackwood, caught at long off for 11.

Another blow

Jamaica suffered another blow on the stroke of lunch when John-Ross Campbell (3) was run-out - failing to beat Delorn Johnson's direct hit from mid-wicket - as he attempted a sharp single.

From a lunchtime position of 45 for two, the Jamaicans profited from a 68-run third-wicket stand between their two West Indies World Youth (Under-19) players Horace Miller and André Creary.

Miller lashed 71 with nine fours and a six before he was caught at point trying a forcing shot against Cottoy, the skipper from St Vincent and Grenadines.

The in-form leg-spinner, who bagged a tremendous match-haul of 13 for 97 against Guyana in the second round, snared another wicket in the session when he had Kennar Lewis caught at first slip for 15, just before rain triggered an early tea at 2:17 local time.

There was another rain interruption soon after Jamaica resumed from tea at 152 for four and when play restarted after a near hour and a half stoppage, the Windwards enjoyed a flurry of Jamaican wickets.

Wicketkeeper Maverick Perry fell without scoring to Polius first ball - caught at extra-cover - after the rain break at 163 for five.

Cottoy then dislodged the captain Creary caught at mid-off for 56, with three fours and two sixes.

Declined rapidly

The innings then declined rapidly as Cottoy and the St Lucian Polius collaborated to get rid of Jermaine Blackwood (2), Romeo Dunka (6), Jermaine Cole (0) and Wray (0).

Cottoy finished with figures of five for 53 off 21 overs and Polius picked up three for 42 off 16.1 overs.

When the Windwards went out to reply, Wray struck in the second over of the innings to remove Wayne Harper caught behind without scoring.

Dennis Louis (0) and Oscar George (0) will resume on today's second day in pursuit of 171 more runs to guarantee first-innings points.

At the Carlton Sports Club: Trinidad & Tobago, choosing to bat, reached 215 for five in their first innings when stumps were drawn on the rain-shortened opening day of their third-round match against Leeward Islands yesterday.

Brief scores: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 215 for five (Adrian Barath 121, Yannick Cariah 23 not out, Evin Lewis 20; Tevin Osbourne 3-46, Kenroy David 2-47) vs LEEWARD ISLANDS.

At the Cable & Wireless Sports Club: Barbados, sent in to bat, reached 96 for two in their first innings when stumps were drawn on a rain-shortened opening day of their third-round match against Guyana yesterday.

Brief scores: BARBADOS 96 for two (Kraigg Brathwaite 34 not out, Kyle Corbin 34, Roston Chase 21 not out).