BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC)

Off-spinner Kenneth Dember's six-wicket haul undermined defending champions Jamaica and put Windward Islands in control of their final-round encounter of the Regional Under-19 three-day Championship yesterday.

The wily Vincentian finished with six for 45 as Jamaica, sent in by the Windwards, were knocked over for a disappointing 116 at Weymouth Sports Club.

At the close, the Windwards were making a cautious reply at 22 without loss, from the 18 overs available.

Jamaica wobbled from the outset and were tottering at 58 for six before Delbert Gayle and Brandon King combined in a 57-run, seventh-wicket stand to prop up the innings.

Gayle top-scored with 38 off 47 balls in 46 minutes, striking a four and two sixes while King hit a single four in 20, which consumed nearly an hour-and-a-half.

However, once Dember broke the stand by having Gayle taken at slip by captain Jerlani Robinson, the innings collapsed and Jamaica lost their last four wickets for a single run.

King was eventually ninth out, lbw to Dember pushing forward.

Earlier, left-arm seamer Preston McSween (2-14) removed both openers cheaply to make early inroads for the Windwards.

He had Kerry Holness caught at second slip by Taryck Gabriel without scoring and then had Oshane Walters taken behind for 12.