Jamaica struggle for draw against England

KINGSTON: The touring England cricketers and Jamaica played to a draw yesterday in their three-day match at Sabina Park. Set at an improbable 299 runs to win, Jamaica were struggling at 106 for the loss of six wickets when the match was called off. England had earlier declared their second innings closed at 259 for six. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles warmed up for next week’s First Test against the West Indies by picking up four wickets for 19 runs off 10 overs. Jamaica lost captain Brenton Parchment for one shortly after tea with the score on 26 to fastbowler James Anderson. But Shawn Findlay (26) and Donovan Pagon (26) took the score to 65 before Giles stepped in to put the host batsmen under pressure.

Earlier, Paul Collingwood became the second England batsman to score a century in the match. The Durham right-hander hammered eight fours and one six off 142 deliveries in his 103. Captain Michael Vaughan stroked 105 on the opening day. Andy Flintoff also played aggressively, spanking 57 off only 71 balls including eight fours and one six. The match is England’s first on a two-month tour of the Caribbean. Next, the team plays a three-day match against the University of the West Indies XI starting tomorrow at the school’s  Mona campus. England have not won a Test series in the Caribbean in 36 years, but beat the West Indies 3-1 when they visited the Britain in 2000.