Miller magic - Spinner slices into Bajan batting for big J’can win

Jamaica crush B’dos by 120 runs on 3rd day

BY SANJAY MYERS Observer staff reporter

Monday, February 13, 2012

LEFT-ARM slow bowler Nikita Miller took 10 wickets in the match to drive reigning champions Jamaica to a 120-run win over rivals Barbados inside three days at Sabina Park in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day tournament.

The 29-year-old Miller, who relished the grip and turn that was produced on a dry and cracking Sabina Park pitch, took 5-24 off 17.5 overs yesterday to dismiss Barbados for 172 in their run chase of 293 to win.

The miserly left-arm orthodox spinner had already taken five wickets in the Barbados first innings and completed remarkable match figures of 10-49.

Scores: Jamaica 287 (84.4 overs) and 162 (58.2 overs); Barbados 157 (57.3 overs) and 172 (51.5 overs)

Barbados started bravely on a deteriorating batting surface, but slipped to 35-3 as left-arm quick Sheldon Cotterell and medium-pacer David Bernard bowled aggressive spells.

Teenager Kraigg Brathwaite (15) was the first to go when he played an upper-cut off Cotterell and was caught by Donvan Pagon at third man.

Bernard hit Omar Phillips (eight) on the upper body with a delivery that leapt uncomfortably at the left-handed batsman and followed up with a full, angled ball and had him caught by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.

Ryan Hinds (0) unwisely played back to a Cotterell delivery and was trapped in front of the stumps. Hinds also failed to trouble the scorers in the first innings.

Barbados captain Kirk Edwards resisted temporarily, but he was soon outfoxed and bowled for 22 when he played back to Miller.

Miller then accounted for Kenroy Williams, wicket-keeper/batsman Shane Dowrich and Sulieman Benn to leave Barbados on 99-7.

Left-handed batsman Jonathan Carter and Kemar Roach batted solidly and delayed the inevitable with a fighting stand of 47 before the former lofted leg-spinner Odean Brown to Bernard at long on and was out for a well-played 64. He faced 73 balls and cracked eight fours and two sixes.

Tino Best (0) was also dismissed by Brown and Miller had Roach (26) driving in the air to Richardson at mid-off to seal the win.

Earlier, the Jamaicans were led by captain Tamar Lambert, who struck a fluent half-century in the team's total of 162.

Resuming from their overnight 78-4, the pair of Lambert and Richardson shared in a lively stand of 37 before the latter was bowled by the impressive-looking Roach for 17.

Bernard and Baugh were soon dismissed to a pair of wickedly turning deliveries from towering left-arm spinner Benn after both edged catches to wicketkeeper Dowrich.

Roach, who bowled a beautifully accurate spell on Saturday afternoon, continued his destruction from the Michael Holding End, dismissing Miller and Brown via the lbw route in consecutive deliveries to secure five wickets in the innings.

Lambert and number 11 batsman Cotterell added 34 for the final wicket before the burly Jamaican captain swept Benn into the hands of Best at deep midwicket. He made 61 to go with his 51 in the first innings and struck eight fours and a six off 79 balls.

Roach took 5-31 off 19 overs and was easily the best of the much-vaunted Bajan pace attack. Fellow fast bowlers Best and Fidel Edwards were both went wicketless in the second innings. Benn shone with 4-32 off 19 overs and two balls.

The result marks Jamaica's second straight victory this season in their campaign to nab an unprecedented fifth straight four-day title. Last week they defeated Windward Islands in the opening round fixture.

Lambert's team continues their quest to create history when they host Leeward Islands at Sabina, starting on Thursday.

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Miller magic - Spinner slices into Bajan batting for big J’can win