Day 2: Windwards Make Solid Reply

The Windward Islands were 47 for without loss in reply to Jamaica's 178 all out at the end of the second day of their 2002 Busta Cup match at Queen's Park today, after two full sessions and 20 minutes were lost to rain.

At close Devon Smith was 27 not out and Rommel Currency 18.

Play did not get started until 20 minutes after the schedule tea interval as overnight and early morning showers left groundsmen carrying out mopping operations for most of the day.

When play finally got underway, Gareth Breese 41 not out overnight, failed to get what would have been a deserving half-century. Left arm pacer Deighton Butler, bowling over the wicket, was able to bring back one through the gate to clean bowl the Jamaican top scorer for 48.

It was pointed out overnight that Breese' partner was Germaine Lawson and not Audley Sanson as went down in the official scorebook.

But Lawson did not add to his overnight 17 as Sanson, after two lofty blows off leg spinner Orlanda Jackson, including a huge six over mid wicket, edged Butler to Murray.

It was Murray's fifth dismissal of the innings, his final catch as spectacular as his first, only this time taking a high flyer one-handed in front of second slip, rather than the low spectacular dive.

Butler, who took the only two wickets on the shortened second day finished with three for 52, with Jackson the man who broke the Jamaicans heart on the first day, ending with four for 37.

The pair of Currency and Smith saw the Windwards to the close with little bother, though Currency might have been caught when he was 10, essaying a loose drive off Sanson's first over of a second spell, fast and wide, to Leon Garrick at cover.

Garrick normally a safe catcher, spilled the chance, but it would have been a spectacular catch if he had managed to pull it off.
Smith has looked particularly ominous, though more assured against the pacers than the off spin of Breese, which was introduced late in the day.

He has already struck four fours; two glorious extra cover drives off Sanson, and a pair of smashing backfoot drives off successful deliveries of off spinner Ricardo Powell.

Powell was called into action earlier than might have been expected with leg spinner Brian Murphy not taking the field, resting the hamstring he injured when batting on the first day.

* SOURCE: Windies Cricket Board.