KINGSTOWN, CANA: THE Windwards batted confidently over the final two sessions of play to earn a draw against Jamaica on the fourth and final day of their first round Busta Cup cricket match at the Arnos Vale Playing Field yesterday.

The Windwards, set 271 for victory, were 106 for one, when play was called off at 4. 30 p.m. At the close, Kester Sylvester was unbeaten on 51, and Reynold McLean was on 23.

The Jamaicans, who had enjoyed a first innings lead of 127 when they scored 280 and dismissed the Windwards for 153, resumed their second innings on 52 for three and declared at lunch on 143 for five. The Windwards batted stubbornly however despite losing Devon Smith who was caught at short leg by Carl Wright off leg spinner Brian Murphy for 17 with the score on 37.

There was solid resistance from the other opener Sylvester and Reynold McLean who batted through until the close to earn their team a draw. The Jamaicans collected eight points from gaining first innings honours, and the Windwards had to be contented with four points.

The Windwards in the session before tea, scored 61 for one and added another 45 runs before play was called off.

Sylvester was given a life before he had scored, dropped by Tony Powell at second slip after edging an outswinger from Audley Sanson with just six runs on the board for the Windwards.

Earlier, the Jamaicans were led by an unbeaten 86 from opener Chris Gayle before they declared their second innings at 143 for five at the fall of Delroy Morgan's wicket at the stroke of lunch.

Gayle, who resumed from his overnight score of 30, batted 231 minutes, faced 159 balls, and struck seven fours as the innings ended with him 14 short of a century.

Jamaica lost Tony Powell (13) and Delroy Morgan (16) in adding 91 in the morning session.

Powell was bowled by Nixon McLean with a delivery which went betweem bat and pad and removed his off stump, and Morgan (16), following a mix-up with Gayle, failed to beat a direct return from McLean.

McNeil Morgan led the Windwards' bowling with two for 39.

Jamaica 1st innings 280
Windwards 1st Innings
(overnight 66 for four)


J. Murray run out 55, M. Morgan a Samuels b Sanson 8
B. Stapleton c Sanson b Breese 8, R. Lewis lbw b Williams 2
R. Marshall not out 20, N. McLean c Samuels b Breese 0,br> C. Cuffy b Williams 2, Extras (lb4, NB10) 14, Total 153
Fall: 1-26, 2-40, 3-57, 4-57, 5-70, 6-100, 7-123, 8-140, 9-142.
Bowling: Mais 13-4-32-1, Sanson 14-3-33-2, Breese 25-10-37-2, Murphy 14-3-22-2, Williams 8.3-1-25-2.

Jamaica 2nd Innings

C. Gayle not out 30, C. Wright b Cuffy 2, G. Breese b Morgan 12
R. Samuels c Lewis b Morgan 0, T. Powell not out 3, Extras (2 lb, 3 nb) 5
Total for three wickets 52
Bowling: McLean 6-0-15-0, Cuffy 8-2-18-1 (2nb) Morgan 5-2-8-2, Lewis 3-0-9-0 1nb).