KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Captain Tamar Lambert and Donovan Pagon hit half-centuries to help four-time defending champions Jamaica haul themselves back into contention, on the opening day of their second round Regional Four-Day clash with Barbados here yesterday.
Lambert got 51 while Pagon scored 55 as Jamaica, opting to bat first after winning the toss, recovered from 70 for three to be dismissed for 287.
Fast bowler Tino Best led the Barbados attack, snaring three for 24 while Test pacer Fidel Edwards (2-37) and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (2-68) supported with two wickets apiece.
At the close, Barbados were five without loss in the three overs available before the close at Sabina Park.
Barbados made a lively start to proceedings when Best had left-handed opener Simon Jackson caught at the wicket in the second over of the day, without scoring at seven for one.
Jamaica were in further trouble when Best struck again to have West Indies one-day specialist Danza Hyatt (14) caught at gully by Ryan Hinds with the score on 16 for two, in the day’s sixth over.
Test discard Brendan Nash, who hit 25, then helped stitch up the innings in a 54-run, third wicket stand with Pagon, carrying Jamaica to lunch at 70 for two.
The left-handed Nash, who stroked two fours in a 59-ball knock, perished the third ball after the interval to a catch in the gully by Hinds, giving Fidel Edwards his first wicket.
However, Pagon buckled down in a 79-run stand with Lambert to keep Barbados’ bowlers at bay, and execute another repair job on the Jamaica innings.
The right-handed Pagon, who played two Tests seven years ago, struck seven fours and a six in an innings lasting just over three hours and requiring 131 balls.
Lambert, meanwhile, struck four fours and two sixes, and faced 91 balls in 105 minutes at the crease.
Left-arm spinner Hinds broke the stand when he had Pagon caught at cover and Benn then threatened to turn the match on its head when he prised out Lambert and Carlton Baugh in successive deliveries, to leave Jamaica on 180 for six.
Lambert was taken at gully by Hinds while Baugh was adjudged lbw, to leave Benn on a hat-trick.
However, Jamaica’s lower order rallied with David Bernard Jr (27) and Nikita Miller (28) putting on 48 for the eighth wicket.
When they departed within five runs of each other at 233 for eight, Andrew Richardson cracked two fours and a six in 28 while Odean Brown stroked an unbeaten 20 as Jamaica’s tail wagged.
Scoreboard
JAMAICA 1st Innings
S Jackson lbw b Best 0
D Hyatt c Hinds b Best 14
D Pagon c Brathwaite b Hinds 55
B Nash c Hinds b Edwards 25
*T Lambert c Hinds b Benn 51
D Bernard c (sub) Jordan b Roach 27
+C Baugh lbw b Benn 0
N Miller c Williams b Hinds 28
A Richardson b best 28
O Brown not out 20
S Cotterell b Edwards 0
Extras (b14, lb4, w1, nb15, pen.5) 39
TOTAL (all out, 84.4 overs) 287
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-16, 3-70, 4-149, 5-180, 6-180, 7-228, 8-233, 9-285, 10-287.
Bowling: F Edwards 13.4-5-37-2, Best 12-4-24-3, Roach 11-1-37-1, Benn 18-2-68-2, Williams 11-2-49-0, Hinds 19-4-49-2.
BARBADOS 1st Innings
K Brathwaite not out 0
*K Edwards not out 0
Extras (w5) 5
TOTAL (without loss, 3 overs) 5
To bat: O Phillips, R Hinds, J Carter, K Williams, +S Dowrich, C Brathwaite, K Roach, S Benn, F Edwards, T Best.
Bowling: Richardson 1-0-5-0, Cotterell 1-1-0-0, Miller 1-1-0-0.
Position: Barbados trail by 284 runs.
Toss: Jamaica.
Umpires: Nigel Duguid, Vivian Johnson.
