ST CATHERINE, Jamaica, CMC – Paul Stirling, Niall O’Brien and Alex Cusack scored half centuries for Ireland as Jamaica toiled for the entire second day of their three-day Jamaica Cricket Association Festival match at Chedwin Park yesterday.

Stirling, 65, and O’Brien, 62, set the stage for Ireland with a patient 108-run second wicket partnership, after William Porterfield fell to a catch by Akeem Dewar off youthful pacer Andre Russell, with just one on the board.

Stirling stroked 10 fours and a six in his knock while O’Brien counted eight, as they frustrated the Jamaican bowlers with positive batting.

However, Stirling’s run out at 109 for two after facing 112 deliveries in just over two hours at the crease, triggered a slide as leg-spinner Dewar wreaked havoc on the middle order to finish with four for 81.

Dewar, a West Indies Under-19 player, removed O’Brien caught by Horace Miller at 138 for three and then dismissed Andre Botha for 15.

The 18-year-old Dewar than picked up the key wicket of Cusack caught and bowled for 53, which contained five fours and a six off 124 deliveries.

Trent Johnson, 12, and Gary Kidd, one, will resume batting ontoday’s final day as Ireland look to get as close as possible to Jamaica’s 339 all out.

Russell, who picked up two late wickets, has so far claimed three for 41.