Tail sting

GOT HIM! Ryan Hinds (right) celebrating a wicket with captain Kirk Edwards. (Picture courtesy www.windiescricket.com)

Sat, February 11, 2012 - 12:05 AM

LET DOWN by their spin attack, Barbados could not find a way past a resilient Jamaica late order, who rallied to take the defending champions to a competitive 287 at Sabina Park, on the opening day of their second-round regional first-class showdown yesterday.

Captain Tamar Lambert and Donovan Pagon hit half-centuries to help revive the home team who were tottering at 180 for six at one stage.

A below par Sulieman Benn took two for 68 in 18 unpenetrative overs of left-arm spin, while off-spinner Kenroy Williams, back at the first-class level for the first time since 2005, was wicketless in 11 overs that cost 49 runs.

Lambert got 51 while Pagon scored 55, but it was the bowlers, Nikita Miller (28), Andrew Richardson (28) and Odean Brown (20 not out), who sparked the Jamaican revival with dogged batting.

Fast bowler Tino Best led the Barbados attack, snaring three for 24.

Fidel Edwards, who has 11 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, took just two scalps, and fellow Test fast bowler Kemar Roach captured just the wicket of Dave Bernard.

At the close, Barbados were five without loss in the three overs available before the close.

Barbados made a lively start to proceedings when Best had left-handed opener Simon Jackson caught at the wicket for a duck in the second over of the day, with the score at seven for one.

Jamaica were in further trouble when Best had 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 (25) helped stitch up the innings in a 54-run, third-wicket stand with Pagon, carrying Jamaica to lunch at 70 for two.

Nash perished the third ball after the interval to a catch in the gully by Hinds, giving 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 innings.

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.

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, the lower order rallied with David Bernard Jr (27) and Nikita Miller putting on 48 for the eighth wicket.

When they departed within five runs of each other at 233 for eight, Richardson cracked two fours and a six, while Brown was just as defiant. (CMC/MK)