ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad, Apr 2, CMC – Test left-hander Brendan Nash hit his maiden first class double century while veteran Wavell Hinds chipped in with his 23rd hundred, as Jamaica gorged themselves on Trinidad and Tobago’s bowling to dominate the second day of their semi-final here yesterday.
The Australia-born batsman, gearing up for the Test series against Pakistan starting later this month, carved out a fine 207 to help push the defending champions to 574 for seven and closer to the final of the Regional First Class Championship.
He received great support from Hinds who cracked an unbeaten 131, his second century of the tournament as he became the third Jamaican batsman to pass 500 runs for the season.
Resuming the day at 251 for three, Jamaica continued to dominate, batting well in partnerships as the innings revolved around the unflappable Nash.
Overall, he faced 349 balls in an innings spanning 513 minutes and including 20 fours and two sixes.
Starting the day unbeaten on 96, he quickly reached his century before moving into high gear, pulling leg-spinner Imran Khan for six over mid-wicket.
His off-side stroke-play was superb, gathering much of his runs with silky drives behind point as he extended his fourth wicket stand with captain Tamar Lambert (41) to 104.
The right-handed Lambert eventually fell lbw to seamer Rayad Emrit (2-60), paving the way for the most productive partnership of the innings as Nash and Hinds posted 166 for the fifth wicket.
Nash passed his previous best of 176 and reached his double century on the stroke of tea, before perishing to a catch at the wicket off medium pacer Kieron Pollard after the interval.
Hinds, who has so far counted 12 fours and a six in an innings lasting 217 balls and 309 minutes, then took responsibility for the innings.
The 34-year-old, who hit 162 against T&T in the preliminary round, added 33 with David Bernard Jr (16) and another 63 for the seventh wicket with Chadwick Walton (30), to further frustrate T&T.
Off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth prised out Walton to a catch at the wicket late in the day, to end with two for 102.
Scoreboard
Jamaica 1st Innings
S Jackson c S Ganga b Rampaul 1
D Hyatt lbw Jaggernauth 41
M Samuels c wkp Ramdin b Emrit 80
B Nash c wkp Ramdin b Pollard 207
*T Lambert lbw Emrit 41
W Hinds not out 131
D Bernard c wkp Ramdin b Gabriel 16
+C Walton c wkp Ramdin c Jaggernauth 30
A Russell not out 1
Extras (lb7, w4, nb15) 26
Total (7 wkts, 176 overs) 574
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-57, 3-198, 4-302, 5-468, 6-501, 7-564.
To bat: B Brown, J Dawes.
Bowling: Rampaul 33-6-121-1, Gabriel 24-3-85-1, Emrit 20-2-60-2, Jaggernauth 43-15-102-2, Pollard 12-0-36-1, Imran Khan 26-4-104-0, S Ganga 13-1-41-0, Simmons 5-0-18-0.
