LEFT-ARM spinner Nikita Miller grabbed 7-13 to ensure Jamaica ended day two in a formidable position against the Leeward Islands in the Regional Four-day clash at Sabina Park in Kingston, despite a second-innings batting collapse.

The Jamaicans will resume their second innings today at 9:30 am on 153-9, which gives them an overall lead of 254 — a total that could already be too steep a climb for the Leeward Islands in this low-scoring encounter.

Jamaica’s lower order batsmen Odean Brown and Sheldon Cotterell are undefeated on 22 and 19, respectively, and have shared in a last wicket stand worth 37 runs on a batting surface that is offering sideways movement for the pace bowlers and turn and bounce for the spinners.

Scores: Jamaica 209 (58.4 overs) & 153-9 (48 overs); Leeward Islands 108 (65.2 overs)

Earlier yesterday, the Leewards continued from their overnight score of 38-3, but lost overnight batsmen Montcin Hodge and Devon Thomas to the pace of Andrew Richardson.

Hodge (21) was first to go with the score on 45 when he was caught by Blackwood in attempting a forceful shot, while Thomas (18) followed 20 runs later, edging a catch to Simon Jackson at second slip.

That set the table for the sly left-arm orthodox slow bowling of Miller, who accounted for Tonito Willett (1), Jamar Hamilton (11), Hayden Walsh (14), Kelbert Walters (6), and Justin Athanaze (8) to seal a 101-run lead for the hosts.

The 30-year-old Miller, who is looking to make a return to the West Indies set-up, bowling with unyielding accuracy and subtle variation, finished with excellent figures of 7-13 in 20 overs and two balls.

Richardson, 31, bowled with good pace and exacted a fair amount of bounce to trouble the Leewards batsmen. He took 3-34 off 12 overs.

Though having the first innings cushion, the five-time reigning champions were made to struggle as the visitors put in a disciplined bowling displaying — albeit on a bowler-friendly surface, and against batsmen who seemed short on confidence.

Left-handed opener Simon Jackson, making his second duck of the match, appeared to be unlucky when he was adjudged to be lbw to a full-pitched swinging delivery from medium-pacer Willett that might have been missing leg stump.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA 1st Innings 209

LEEWARDS 1st Innings

(overnight 38 for three)

M Hodge c Blackwood b Richardson 21

L Richardson c Miller b Richardson 0

S Liburd c Jackson b Miller 16

*S Joseph lbw b Miller 0

D Thomas c Jackson b Richardson 18

+J Hamilton b Miller 11

T Willett c wkp Baugh b Miller 1

H Walsh c Bonner b Miller 14

J Athanaze c Lambert b Miller 8

K Walters lbw b Miller 6

Q Boatswain not out 3

Extras (lb2, nb8) 10

TOTAL (all out, 65.2 overs) 108

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-29, 3-29, 4-45, 5-65, 6-66, 7-71, 8-91, 9-92, 10-108.

Bowling: Richardson 12-4-34-3, Cotterrell 16.5-6-33-0, Bernard 9-5-6-0, Miller 20.2-13-13-7, Brown 7.1-2-10-0.

JAMAICA 2nd Innings

N Bonner c Liburd b Willett 13

S Jackson lbw b Willett 0

D Hyatt c Liburd b Boatswain 0

J Blackwood b Walters 14

*T Lambert c Joseph b Walsh 43

D Bernard Jr lbw b Athanaze 5

+C Baugh c Thomas b Walsh 20

N Miller c Thomas b Walsh 4

A Richardson c (sub) A Saunders b Walsh 3

O Brown not out 22

S Cotterrell not out 19

Extras (b5, lb1, w4) 10

TOTAL (9 wkts, 48 overs) 153

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-12, 3-27, 4-37, 5-44, 6-104, 7-108, 8-110, 9-116.

Bowling: Boatswain 10-2-39-1, Willett 12-6-16-2, Walsh 11-1-45-4, Walters 9-0-22-1, Athanaze 6-1-25-1.

Position: Jamaica lead by 254 runs.

Toss: Leewards.

Umpires: D Ramdhanie, V Smith.