NAIN, St Elizabeth, CMC – Guyana fast bowler Brandon Bess grabbed a five-wicket haul to send Jamaica tumbling on the opening day of their first round Regional First Class Championship match here yesterday.
The 23-year-old, who played a single Test against South Africa last year, picked up a career-best five for 28 as Jamaica, sent in to bat at Alpart Sports Club, were dismissed for a meagre 150.
He bowled with accuracy and pace to better his previous best, a four-wicket haul against Jamaica in Barbados last year.
At the close, Guyana were 32 for one, 118 runs adrift of first innings lead.
Jamaica were in trouble early when Danza Hyatt fended off a short ball from pacer Esaun Crandon to be caught at the wicket by Derwin Christian for three with the score on six.
Opener Simon Jackson then dominated a 32-run, second wicket stand with Marlon Samuels (13), scoring an attractive 26 off 62 balls with two fours to restore balance for the hosts before the innings went into decline again.
Samuels started the rut when he drove Bess to cover where Vishaul Singh took a brilliant diving catch and Jackson followed soon after when he edged a catch to Leon Johnson at first slip, prodding at a googly from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (2-51).
Captain Tamar Lambert played a cameo 25 from 47 balls with five fours in adding 36 for the fourth wicket with Test batsman Brendan Nash, who top scored with 29.
But just when Jamaica seemed to be regaining their footing, Lambert drove loosely at Bess and was caught at the wicket and four runs later, the experienced Wavell Hinds (1) edged a defensive push to first slip off Bess at 97 for five.
The left-handed Nash, who hit three fours off 81 balls in 107 minutes at the crease, then perished when he pushed a simple catch to Shemroy Barrington at short leg off Bishoo to depart, leaving Jamaica in further strife.
David Bernard hit two fours in 23 to offer resistance but he too fell to a catch close-in off Veerasammy Permaul (2-19) as Jamaica failed to rescue the slide.