Jamaica struggle to 215/6

ST ELIZABETH: Jamaica closed the first day of the Carib Beer International Challenge Series semi-final at 215 for the loss of six wickets against the Windward Islands at Jamaica’s Alpart Sports Club yesterday. Not out batsman were David Bernard on 69, and Nehemiah Perry on 22, after they staged a rearguard fightback in a seventh-wicket partnership worth 45 so far. Sent in to bat by the Windward Islands, Jamaica had been struggling at 170 for six, before Bernard, Donovan Pagon (45) and Maurice Kepple put on 39.

Jamaica lost captain Chris Gayle to the second delivery of the day, caught by wicketkeeper Lyndon James off the bowling of pacer Fernix Thomas for nought. Kepple and Pagon defended and carried the score to 62 without further loss at lunch, but on the resumption the Jamaica innings suffered a few setbacks. With the score on 88, they lost Kepple and Pagon. Kepple struck three fours and one six off 130 balls, while Pagon hit five fours, three of them coming in one over from medium-pacer Darren Sammy.

Things got worse two runs later when Tamar Lambert was caught in the deep for one trying to hit Shillingford out of the ground. Keith Hibbert and Bernard steadied the innings somewhat, taking the score to 130 for four at tea. They added 42 for the fifth wicket but shortly after the break, Sammy dismissed Hibbert for 17. Bernard struck eight fours and one six in his knock to date. Shane Shillingford was best Windwards bowler taking two wickets for 48 runs from 18 overs.