Spinner Nikita Miller was relieved after Jamaica recovered to beat the Combined Campuses and Colleges by 59 runs to squeeze into the fourth and final semi-final spot in the Regional Four-day tournament.
The Jamaicans, whose batting has been underwhelming in recent years, were again found wanting in that department, but an admirable bowling performance on a spinner-friendly wicket shoved them over the line.
“We had to dig deep. We’re happy to be in the semi-finals,” Miller said.
The win stopped a three-game losing streak as Jamaica ended the preliminary stage with 59 points, behind title-holders Barbados (82), Trinidad & Tobago (80) and Windward Islands (65). The Combined Campuses, who entered the game with a shot at the semis, finished fifth with 49 points.
The Tamar Lambert-captained Jamaicans will now meet hosts Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, while Trinidad & Tobago welcome Windward Islands to the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. Both games begin on Saturday.
Miller, who took eight wickets in the match, including three in the second innings as their opponents slumped from 131-3 to be dismissed for 177 in search of 237 runs to win, praised his team-mates, singling out part-time off-spinner John Campbell, who took 4-17 in the CCC’s run-chase.
“It was a total team effort, though we haven’t batted well this season,” said the former West Indies spinner. “The pitch helped spin bowling and we exploited the conditions. John Campbell is a part-timer, but he spins the ball a lot and he did well for us.”
The final starts on Apr. 25 at a venue decided on who reaches the final.
The Jamaicans, whose batting has been underwhelming in recent years, were again found wanting in that department, but an admirable bowling performance on a spinner-friendly wicket shoved them over the line.
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