FLORENCE HALL, Trelawny — Hosts Jamaica suffered a setback in their quest to wrest from Trinidad and Tobago the West Indies Cricket Board Limited Overs President’s Cup after they went down by five wickets to the Windward Islands by the Duckworth Lewis method in a rain-affected Group A game at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium here yesterday.

Jamaica won the toss and made a creditable 223, thanks to a whirlwind 58 not out from a limping Christopher Gayle, but the Windwards who made 85 for five off 20 overs when a second shower of rain ended the game after being 65 without loss at the first stoppage, won on a faster run rate.

After a sluggish start by the Jamaicans on a slow pitch and even slower outfield, the game ended in an anti-climax with the weather deciding the winners.

Chasing a sizable 224 for victory, the Windwards were well set at 65 without loss after 15 overs when the first stoppage that lasted two hours and 20 minutes came.

The target was then revised to 113 off 25 overs, but they struggled against a determined Jamaican attack led by Nikita Miller and Odean Brown who took two wickets each, losing five wickets for the addition of just 20 runs off five overs.

A third shower of rain, however, ended the contest and the Windwards were declared winners.

Openers Devon Smith made 42 not out, Jason Charles was run out for 20 by a direct throw from the deep by Marlon Samuels against Miller, who took two wickets for eight runs off four overs and Brown who got two wickets for 10 runs off three overs.

Earlier, Jamaica were off to a slow start, getting to 76 for three wickets off the first 25 overs and got to the 100-run mark in the 32nd over before two good partnerships late helped to lift the scoring rate and the total to over 200 runs.

Tamar Lambert (38) and Danza Hyatt (36) put on 75 for the fourth wicket before Gayle, who hit an unbeaten 58 and Carlton Baugh who was not out on 24, put on 85 for the sixth wicket in quick time.

Gayle, who had retired hurt after facing three balls at the start of the Jamaica innings, came back to savage the Windward Islands bowling, hitting four fours and four sixes, three sixes coming in the final over off Darren Sammy where he scored 23 runs.

Gayle, who injured his ankle and did not field, was dropped twice in the final over, as the Windwards put down four chances — two in an earlier over by substitute fielder Keddy Lesporous.