Jamaica fall cheaply

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

An impressive spell of fast bowling from Brandon Bess jeopardised Jamaica's quest for a winning start, when they were dismissed for 150 by Guyana in the first innings of their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-Day Tournament fixture at Alpart Sports Club, St Elizabeth, yesterday.

Playing on what was a fairly good batting surface, Jamaica, who lost the toss and were asked to take first strike, were undermined by the 23-year-old Bess, who bowled a good line and length to end with five for 28.

Guyana, in their response, reached 32 for one off 15 overs, when a brief shower curtailed proceedings seven minutes before the scheduled 5 p.m. close of play.

surprise call-up

The 6'4" Bess, who has a solitary West Indies Test cap - after receiving a surprise call-up against South Africa last year - was best supported by leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo, who took two for 51.

Brendan Nash with 29 top-scored for the hosts, while former Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) opener, Simon Jackson, on debut for the home country, hit 26. Captain Tamar Lambert, 25, and David Bernard Jr, 23, also got decent starts, but a combination of ill-advised shots and impatience eventually led to their downfall.

The West Indies batsman whose International Cricket Council ban ended recently, Marlon Samuels, in his first four-day game for Jamaica in two years, could only manage 13, while Danza Hyatt, who appears to be still suffering from a broken finger he picked up two months ago, fell in the third over of the day for three.

Jamaica's other specialist batsman, Wavell Hinds, who was last season's leading run-scorer, made one, while wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton, a former CCC player making his Jamaica debut, batted his way to 15.

"We are disappointed to have been bowled out for 150. But having said that, I think the game is wide open, given the way the wicket is playing. The plan is to get some early wickets in the morning and then try and take it through the day," said Lambert, Jamaica's captain.

On the contrary, Guyana's captain, Assad Fudadin, was all smiles and said they will be looking to keep on the pressure.

keep them under pressure

"To restrict Jamaica to 150 is a very good effort and I am more than happy," he said. "It's now up to the batsmen to put their heads down and try and pile up the runs as we would love to keep them under pressure."

Bernard Jr, with one for nine, 21-year-old debutant Sheldon Cotterell none for eight, the returning Jerome Taylor none for 15, and Odean Brown, who bowled one ball before the rains came, are the bowlers that Jamaica have employed thus far.

Opener Rajendra Chandrika, 13, and Leon Johnson, 13, are the not out batsmen.

Play resumes at 9:30 a.m. today.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA 1st Innings

D Hyatt c wkp Chrstian b E Crandon 3S Jackson c Johnson b Bishoo 26M Samuels c Singh b Bess 13B Nash c Barrington b Bishoo 29T Lambert c wkp Christian b Bess 25W Hinds c Johnson b Bess 1D Bernard c Barrington b Permaul 23+C Walton c R Crandon b Bess 15J Taylor c wkp Christian b Permaul 2O Brown c R Crandon b Bess 2S Cotterel not out 0Extras: (b3, lb4, w2, nb2) 11TOTAL: (all out, 63.4 overs) 150

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-38, 3-57, 4-93, 5-97, 6-107, 7-144, 8-148, 9-148, 10-150.

Bowling: E Crandon 12-5-25-1, Bess 14-5-28-5, Fudadin 6-1-18-0, Bishoo 18-4-51-2, Permaul 11.4-4-19-2, R Crandon 2-1-2-0.

GUYANA 1st Innings

R Chandrika not out 13S Barrington c wkp Walton b Bernard 13L Johnson not out 5Extras: (nb1) 1TOTAL: (1 wkt, 15.1 overs) 32

Fall of wickets: 1-25.

To bat:A Fudadin, E Crandon, V Singh, R Crandon, D Bishoo, B Bess, +D Christian, V Permaul.

Bowling: Taylor 7-1-15-0, Cotterel 4-1-8-0, Bernard 4-1-9-1, Brown .1-0-0-0.

Toss: Guyana.

Position: Guyana trail by 125 runs with nine wickets standing.

Umpires: Clancy Mack, Vivian Johnson