BY ANTHONY FOSTER, Freelance Writer
Jamaica's batsman Xavier Marshall hitting out during his innings of 46 against Leeward Islands on yesterday's final day of their Carib Beer Series match at Kensington Park. - JUNIOR DOWIE
THE DECISION TO accept badlight with just four runs required for victory has left defending champions Jamaica with only first innings against the Leeward Islands in their opening round Carib Beer Series match at Kensington Park yesterday.
Needing just a boundary to win, and with Odean Brown, 14 (22 balls) and Jerome Taylor, 11 (25 balls) batting with little or no discomfort in an unbroken 25-run 10th wicket stand, the Jamaicans, to the surprise of the approximately 300 spectators at the Park, decided to leave the field.
Jamaican captain Tamar Lambert explained his team's decision: "Odean Brown got hit on his left elbow (by Adam Sanford) and couldn't hold his bat so we decided that we were going to take it (light).
JOSEPH SURPRISED
He said the injury to Brown was a major factor in the decision, "anything could happen, it got a little bid dark and the batsmen were complaining that they could not see the ball."
Leewards captain Sylvester Joseph said he was surprised when Jamaica took the light, but is thankful to get four points.
"If I was in the situation I would tell my batsmen to bat on," Joseph said.
Joseph said the decision is not good for West Indies cricket. "It would help West Indies cricket if they had bat on and fight, that's what cricket is all about, you have to win and try to win," he said.
Leewards 196 (Runako Morton 62, Shane Jeffers 55; Andrew Richardson 5-32, Nikita Miller 3-37) & 242 (Shane Jeffers 88, Nikita Miller 3-34, Gareth Breese 3-76).
Jamaica 223 (Tamar Lambert 51, David Bernard Jr 45; Omari Banks 5-76) & 212-9 (Xavier Marshall 46, Carlton Baugh Jr 36; Adam Sanford 3-42, Carl Simon 3-50, Gavin Tonge 2-34).
Jeffers was named man-of-the-match.
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