Jamaica qualifies for semi-finals

Jamaica posted their first win in the WICB competition, and sealed their place in the semi-finals, as they trounced Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) by a whopping 207 runs at Kensington Park.

Jamaica were in danger of being knocked out of the tournament after their loss to Windward Islands and a no-result game against Trinidad and Tobago, but gained a bonus point against CCC to finish second in the Group A points table, a point ahead of T&T.

Their total of 285 was powered by an opening stand of 138 with captain Chris Gayle and Xavier Marshall both hammering half-centuries. Gayle, who was axed as West Indies captain for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, was particularly belligerent as he raced to 72 off 73 balls with four fours and four sixes. Jamaica lost their way after the opening stand as they stumbled from 175 for 3 to 230 for 7, but a late-order flourish from Andre Russell, who blasted 46 from just 22 balls, pushed Jamaica to 285.

Jamaica's bowlers, led by David Bernard, who picked up 3 for 33, then ran through the CCC batting line-up. Miles Bascombe (37) and Gilford Moore (16) were the only batsmen to reach double figures, as CCC were bowled out for a paltry 78 in the 31st over to give Jamaica a win with a bonus point.

Defending champions Trinidad and Tobago were not so lucky as they were knocked out of the WICB Cup after an eight-wicket loss to Windward Islands at Sabina Park. T&T were bundled out for 133 in 40.1 overs, which Windward chased down with ease in 33.2 overs.

Electing to bat, T&T never got going as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. At 38 for 4 after 15 overs, it looked like they were in danger of being bundled out for less than 100. However, Dwayne Bravo's 29 off 25 balls with three fours and two sixes, and an uncharacteristically sedate 39 of 69 balls from Kieron Pollard, pushed T&T up to 133. It was an allround effort from Windward's bowlers as Mervin Matthew, Shane Shillingford and Nelon Pascal picked up two wickets each.

Winward got off to a steady start as their openers Devon Smith and Johnson Charles added 38 for the first wicket. Offspinner Sherwin Ganga then picked up two quick wickets - that of Charles and Andre Fletcher - and at 48 for 2, T&T might have hoped for a collapse. But Smith, who was recalled to the national side for the Sri Lanka tour, anchored Winward's chase with a steady 51. He and Keddy Lesporis, who made 45, ensured there was no collapse as Windward, captained by Darren Sammy, who was named the captain for the Sri Lanka tour, raced to their third straight win in the competition.