Bernard Jr set for opener's role

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Head coach Gus Logie is looking seriously at the idea of David Bernard Jr playing an opening role in Jamaica's team during next month's Caribbean Twenty20 tournament.

Bernard, who captained West Indies A during their recent Twenty20, one-day and four-day series against Pakistan, is more renowned as a bowling all-rounder and generally bats in the middle to lower order.

However, he was used as an opener alongside regular Xavier Marshall during yesterday's first practice match at Sabina Park, a move which Logie said could become permanent, given Bernard's batting ability and the demands of the shortest version of the game.

"I think David Bernard Jr is a much better batsman than people are giving him credit for," said Logie, when asked about the move to put Bernard at the top of the innings.

"Many people have him as a bowling all-rounder, but I think he is more of a batting all-rounder. I think he has the quality to be a genuine batsman and his bowling is a plus ... and has more to give us than batting at number eight or nine in the batting order," he added.

In yesterday's game which included former captain Chris Gayle, who will not be available for the tournament due to overseas commitments, Bernard made a run-a-ball 21 and Marshall 20 off 30 deliveries, to lead Hind's XI to victory over Gayle's XI.

FIRST TO BAT

Batting first, Gayle's XI, which included predominantly players who missed out on the 14-man squad for the tournament, made 111 off their allotted 20 overs with young batsman Horace Miller hitting a shot-filled 48 off 43 balls, including three sixes and three fours, and Gayle making 23 off 26 balls.

Pacers Krishmar Santokie, two for 11 off four overs, and Andre Russell, two for 16 off three overs, took most wickets for Hinds XI.

Hinds XI, which had the bulk of players who are expected to make Jamaica's starting eleven for their opening encounter against Guyana on January 7, then made 138-6 off 20 overs, chasing a revised victory target of 140 set by the coaching staff.

Marlon Samuels topscored with 38 off 30 balls, hitting three sixes and a four. Bernard Jr and Marshall were the next best scorers. Young pacer Jason Dawes, 2-20 off four overs and batting al-rounder, Nkrumah Bonner, 2-14 off fours led the way for Gayle's XI.