Blackwood says he was hungry for more runs in regional tourney

JAMAICA'S middle order batsman Jermaine Blackwood credits head coach Junior Bennett for his guidance during a standout season in the recently concluded Regional Four-day cricket tournament.

Blackwood, the former West Indies youth player, headed the overall run-scoring charts with 611 runs in eight matches at an average of 40.73 as Jamaica won the Headley/Weekes Trophy.

The usually explosive and ultra-aggressive right-hander, who made his first-class debut in 2012, significantly curbed his attacking nature, while stroking 94 and 118 -- his maiden first-class hundred -- during the final against the Windward Islands.

"I feel very good. I was working pretty hard before the first-class season. To go out there and get a century in the final is very good," the 22-year-old told reporters upon the team's arrival from St Lucia last week.

"I still feel I could have made some more runs, but I feel pleased to finish with the most runs. It's a good feeling.

"The coach (kept) telling me all season to just bat some balls, so the last couple games I did that. I knew that as long as I was out there I knew the big runs would come . I batted patiently in the final and the patience paid off," said Blackwood who was playing his first full season of Four-day cricket.