Sport

Bajans turn to Reifer for help

file photos - Floyd Reifer & Tamar Lambert

LEADERS JAMAICA ARE aiming at a third straight Carib Beer Series win, starting tomorrow at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Enjoying a clear eight-point lead over second-place Trinidad and Tobago in the standings.

Jamaica on Monday recorded their second win in the series, beating the Windward Islands by 83 runs at the Beausejour cricket ground in St. Lucia.

Leg-spinner Odean Brown (4 for 47), Daren Powell (2 for 10), Nikita Miller (2 for 29) and Jerome Taylor (2 for 33), combined to restrict the Windwards who were chasing 224 for victory before tumbling to 140 all out in the final session.

Unbeaten century

The Jamaicans, under the leadership of alternate captain Tamar Lambert, moved to maximum 24 points with the win, eight points ahead of Trinidad & Tobago (16). Guyana (seven), Leewards (six) and Barbados and Windwards (four each) follow.

In other third round matches set to start tomorrow, the Windwards host Guyana at Beausejour and second place Trinidad & Tobago are at home against the Leewards.

Guyana, propped up by an unbeaten century from Sewnarine Chattergoon, played to a draw against the Leewards at Grove Park in Nevis on Monday.

Defending champions Barbados are bottom of the table on four points after losing by 49 runs. Trinidad & Tobago at North Stars.

Moving to head-off another loss, the Bajans on Tuesday named experienced batsman Floyd Reifer as technical adviser to the national team.

Injury

Reifer, who played four Tests and two One-Day International (ODI) matches for the West Indies between 1997 and 1999, is missing the 2005 regional first-class season because of injury and is expected to begin his role with the national team immediately to work chiefly with batsmen.

"He will join the management team to assist primarily with the preparation of the squad's young batsmen," a BCA release stated.

The 32-year-old Reifer, who began his first-class career in 1992, was ruled out of the 2005 Carib Beer Series because of serious injuries he suffered last October when he collided with teammate Martin Nurse in their regional limited overs semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago.

The two rushed to take a high catch to remove Ricardo Powell and Reifer suffered a severe knee injury that required surgery, plus injuries to his nose and shoulder.

The BCA said Reifer would not be a travelling member of the management team.