Jamaica take first day honours against Guyana

KINGSTON: Jamaica struck back decisively in the final session to take first-day honours against Guyana in the Carib Beer Series regional cricket match at Sabina Park.

The Guyanese, who had fought back from a precarious lunchtime score of 65 for three wickets to reach 160 for four at tea, lost their last six wickets for only 62 runs in the post-tea session to end at 222. Jamaican openers Brenton Parchment, on four, and Keith Hibbert, who is yet to score, saw the home team through one over and will resume today. Guyana opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, with 68, and middle-order batsman Narsingh Deonarine, who made 69, were the only bright sparks in the Guyana batting. They put on 103 for the fifth wicket in good fashion after their captain Neil McGarrell had won the toss.

The lefthanders came together after the loss of opener Azeemul Haniff for three, Krishna Arjune for four and Lennox Cush for 13. Haniff was bowled by fastbowler Andrew Richardson with the score on 12. The score was 32 when Arjune was trapped leg before wicket by medium-pacer David Bernard, who also bowled Cush with score on 49. Chattergoon and Deonarine batted sensibly, and with some luck, until 20 minutes before tea when Chattergoon was dismissed, caught by wicketkeeper Hibbert off offspinner Nehemiah Perry with the score on 152.