Another batting struggle: Jamaica limp to 177 for six on opening day

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):Three-time defending champions Jamaica endured another first innings batting crisis in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day Tournament against Windward Islands yesterday.

The Jamaicans, sent in to bat, reached 177 for six in their first innings at the close on the opening day of their second-round match at the Queen's Park Stadium.

Marlon Samuels led the way for the visitors with a solid 40, Tamar Lambert, the Jamaica captain, supported with 35, Dave Bernard Jr was not out on 28, and Simon Jackson made 28.

flattering bowling figures

No Windwards bowlers collected more than one wicket, but they largely had flattering bowling figures, particularly Kenroy Peters, whose 23 overs cost 22 runs and included 10 maidens.

Jamaica batted steadily to reach 44 for one at lunch, after opener Danza Hyatt was caught behind off Mervin Matthew for 18 in the last half-hour before the interval.

After lunch, the Jamaicans wobbled to 54 for three when Nelon Pascal trapped left-hander Jackson lbw, and a few balls later Peters had fellow left-hander Brendan Nash caught at mid-off for a duck.

Lambert came to the crease and stabilised the innings with a stand of 57 for the fourth wicket with Samuels.

But the two got into a tangle going for a run and Samuels was run out when he failed to beat Andre Fletcher's direct hit from covers to the striker's end, as Jamaica reached 113 for four at tea.

After the break, Lambert fell in the first half-hour when he was lbw to Garey Mathurin and the Jamaicans ran into further trouble when Wavell Hinds, the most prolific batsman last season, was caught at short cover off Windwards captain Liam Sebastien for six.

Chadwick Walton joined Bernard and they negotiated the final hour to ensure that the Jamaicans did not plunge into deep crisis.

Windwards made one change for the match, with Donwell Hector replacing Keron Cottoy, while Jamaica are unchanged.

The home team are joint fifth in the competition on four points, following a 33-run defeat in their opening match against Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC), after gaining first innings points.

The visitors are co-leaders with the CCC and England Lions on 12 points, following a 165-run victory over Guyana at the Alpart Sports Club on home soil.

Jamaica have won three of their last four regional first-class matches against the Windwards.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA 1st Innings

D. Hyatt c wkpr James b Matthew 18
S. Jackson lbw b Pascal 28
M. Samuels run out 40
B. Nash c Mathurin b Peters 0
T. Lambert lbw b Mathurin 35
W. Hinds c Charles b
Sebastien 6D.
Bernard not out 28+C.
Walton not out 19
Extras: (b1, lb2) 3
TOTAL: (6 wkts, 90 overs) 177

J. Taylor, O. Brown, S. Cotterrell to bat

Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-53, 3-54, 4-111, 5-118, 6-136

Bowling: Pascal 16-4-41-1, Matthew 10-5-19-1, Peters 23-10-22-1, Mathurin 21-2-52-1,
Sebastien 18-5-37-1,
Fletcher 2-1-3-0

WINDWARD ISLANDS: T. Theophile, J. Charles, A. Fletcher, D. Hector,L. Sebastien,
K. Lesporis, +L. James, G. Mathurin, M. Matthew, K. Peters, N. Pascal

Toss: Windward Islands

Umpires: L. Abrahams, C. Mack

Match referee: A. Griffith

Reserve umpire: K. Barrasingha.