Jahmar Hamilton praised his bowlers for WI Best ‘B’ comeback win against WI Best ‘A’ in their four-day Best v Best four-day match at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Thursday.

Entering yesterday’s final day, WI Best ‘B’ were 218-4 needed 311 for victory. They lost three additional wickets before they reached 313-7 for a three-wicket victory. Roston Chase was unbeaten on 45 at the end along with Keron Kottoy on 16. Together the pair put on an unbroken stand of 61 for the eighth wicket that propelled the ‘B’ side to victory.

However, according to the winning captain Jahmar Hamilton, it was the bowlers that brought his team back twice in the match and got them the win. Javon Searles and Roston Chase each took five wickets in the match.

“In the first innings, we let ourselves down. We didn’t get to that 200 mar, 200-plus I would say but the bowlers came back for us in the second innings,” said Hamilton of his side that were bundled out in the first innings for 178 chasing a total of 264.

“They got off to a fast start in both innings so pulling it back was the challenge and the bowlers did that.”

Meanwhile, losing captain Jermaine Blackwood believed his side’s late-order collapse in both innings and losing two of his main strike bowlers contributed to the defeat.

“For sure, I think the first day was good. John (Campbell) and Shai Hope started well, first up. I think they batted good for the first hour but I think like after tea we lost a lot of wickets in clusters and then in the second innings the same thing again,” said Blackwood, who lamented the loss of Shannon Gabriel and Nail Smith during the hunt for victory.

“Shannon and Smith have that extra pace. I think if those guys were on the field there would have been a much different outcome,” he said. “Having said that, I want to commend all of my bowlers because they stuck to the task and bowled pretty decently as well.”