Breese rescues Jamaicans against India ’A’

KINGSTON: Jamaica, with first innings points in the bag, held the upper hand over India “A” at the close of play yesterday in their seventh-round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match.

The home team, with a slim lead of 10 runs on first innings, were 243 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of the second day, an overall lead of 253. At the wicket were vice-captain Gareth Breese, with 56, and Keith Hibbert, who has four. Breese and allrounder David Bernard revived Jamaica’s innings from 131 for five at tea with an 85-run stand for the sixth wicket. Bernard was out just before the close for 46. Bernard and Breese benefited from sloppy fielding by the Indian juniors, who floored five catches as the two allrounders took the attack to them in the final session.

The Indians had made inroads into the Jamaica batting after being bowled out for 119 about 30 minutes before the lunch break. Salvi and Yadav, who shared eight wickets in the Jamaica first innings, have taken three wickets apiece. Jamaican fastbowler Jerome Taylor also shone in the opening session, picking up another five-wicket haul when he captured three of the four remaining India “A” wickets including the gritty Yadav for 16 and Belaji who made 12. Ratra was unbeaten on 34. Taylor finished with five wickets for 39 runs from 13.2 overs, leaving two each for fellow pacer Darren Powell and Breese, bowling right-arm offspin.