Ja trail Bajans in head-to-head

BY PAUL BURROWES Observer writer

Friday, February 10, 2012

JAMAICA'S seventh highest first-class team total of 545 for eight declared came against Barbados at Sabina Park 27 years ago in the 1984/85 Shell Shield.

Carlisle Best won the toss and decided to bat against the Basil Williams-led Jamaica on Friday, February 8, 1985.

Sherlon Greaves (67) and Michael Worrell (53 not out) channelled Barbados to 240 all out, as Aaron Daley and Deron Dixon, making his first-class debut, weighed in with 5-64 and 3-81 respectively.

After losing Ordelmo Peters and Wayne Lewis both for three and both lbw to right-arm fast bowler Wayne Daniel, George Powell dug in for 110 and with Cleveland Davidson (98), Dixon (75) and Daley (50 not out) Jamaica hustled to the 545 for eight declared.

Daniel and Milton Small, right-arm fast-medium, both nabbed three wickets apiece which included that of first-class debutant Jimmy Adams (40).

Best, who made 30 in the first innings, flourished in the second with a belligerent 147. But with no other Bajan making even a half-century, Barbados ran out of steam for 260 all out, thanks to man-of-the-match Daley and Dixon who each picked up three wickets. Jamaica won by an innings and 45 runs.

After 63 matches against Barbados in first-class cricket, however, Jamaica have won only 13, drawn 26 and lost 24.

The last time Jamaica beat Barbados in the four-day game was in March, 2009, with a man-of-the-match performance from Nikita Miller and solid batting from Tamar Lambert (143) in the first innings and Carlton Baugh (108 retired hurt) in the second innings.

Jamaica won by 242 runs, after Barbados won the toss and decided to field at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Miller ended with match figures of 9-88.

It was against Barbados at Sabina Park in 1947 that Allan Rae hit a century in each innings (111, 128) in the March 29-April 3 five-day game which ended in a draw mainly because of Everton Weekes (123) and Frank Worrell (67 not out).

Can Brendan Nash, Andre Russell, and Tamar Lambert repeat that feat?

In terms of the bowling, Franklin Rose set the example with a hat-trick against Barbados at Sabina Park in the January 21-24 Busta Cup match when he removed Sherwin Campbell (1), Adrian Griffith (0), and Philo Wallace (25) with consecutive balls. Jamaica won by 114 runs.

A victory for Jamaica over the next four days at Sabina Park will improve their 20 per cent win record against Barbados in first-class cricket.