Jacobs leads Leewards' fightback

Jamaica 372 and 26 for 0 need 225 more runs to beat Leeward Islands 180 and 442 (Jacobs 140, Morton 103)
Scorecard

An excellent 140 by Ridley Jacobs in probably his last first-class innings brought Leeward Islands back in the Carib Beer finals after they had been outplayed by Jamaica on the first three days at the Alpart Sports Club in St Elizabeth. Resuming on the fourth day at 227 for 6, only 35 runs in the lead, Jacobs lifted Leewards to 442, which left Jamaica with a fourth-innings target of 251. At close of play, they were 26 without loss.

Jacobs, who had earlier announced that he would retire from first-class cricket after this season, scored 139 out of the 215 runs scored by the team on the fourth, putting together useful partnerships for every wicket. He added 79 for the seventh with Omari Banks, whose contribution was a vital 36. Sixty more were put together for the next two wickets, when Adam Sanford joined Jacobs, at 366 for 9. The Jamaicans might have expected a quick end to the innings then, but a further 76 were added before Jacobs was finally trapped in front by Tamar Lambert, the offspinner.

Jacobs struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 337-ball knock, but was lucky to survive twice - Wavell Hinds missed a regulation chance when Jacobs was on 78, while Carlton Baugh missed a run-out opportunity soon after. Jacobs capitalised on those let-offs to ensure that a match which was expected to end in four days went into the fifth. Hinds and Chris Gayle played out the ten overs in the evening without being separated, but with 225 more to get, the Jamaicans still had some work to do.