BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC)

Omari Banks stroked an unbeaten half century for the Leeward Islands against Jamaica on the opening day of their first-round WICB Four-day Regional match on Friday.

Choosing to bat, the Leewards reached 235 for six at stumps, with Banks not out on 75 and Wilden Cornwall on 16 at Warner Park.

The tall right-handed Banks, anxious to rekindle his international career, delivered a fighting knock with five fours and a pair of sixes, while leg-spinner Odean Brown led the Jamaica bowling with three wickets.

positive start

The Leewards got off to a positive start with left-handers Austin Richards Jr and Kieran Powell dismissing the champions' opening attack to compile a fluent half-century opening stand of 78.

They reached their 50-run stand off just 7.2 overs and Richards returned to form with an attacking 49 off 60 balls.

Richards eventually fell to Tamar Lambert, driving the off-spinner to mid-wicket where Odean Brown splendidly took a tumbling catch low to his right.

Powell (31) departed six runs later, bowled by Brown at 84 for two.

The Leewards were heading for lunch in a sound position at 107 for two but suffered a setback when they lost captain Runako Morton in the last over before the break.

Resuming after the lunch break at 107 for three, Banks joined Orlando Peters and the pair added 32 for the fourth wicket before Peters was dislodged, by leg-spinner Gavin Wallace, for 20, edging a googly to first slip. It was the only success for the Jamaicans in the post-lunch session as the Anguillian pair of Banks and Montcin Hodge held the innings together.