Jamaica Struggles to 159-8 v Windwards

Gareth Breese and Audley Sanson shared in a 47-run ninth wicket partnership as Jamaica ended an unsatisfactory day on 159 for eight at the end the first day of their opening round Busta Cup match against the Windwards at the Queens Park National Stadium. Breese was 41 not out and Sanson, 17.

The visitors missed the opportunity to place a big score on a batsman-friendly track largely due to steady bowling and their own impetuous impatience.

No one epitomized that more than skipper Robert Samuels, who effectively started the late afternoon slump after three hours were earlier lost to rain.

Samuels was out caught to a swirling catch at wide mid-on after he inexplicably charged down the wicket to leg spinner Orlando Jackson, who finished the day with four for 25.

The Vincentian leg spinner then took three other quick wickets as Jamaica slumped from 89 for three to 103 for seven.

Then Rawl Lewis had Brian Murphy spectacularly stumped by Junior Murray as the visitors slumped to 112 for eight, before Breeze and Sanson batted with enterprise and heart.

Sanson was brave and sometimes lucky. He inside edged one just past his leg stump and miscued an attempted pull just over the bowlers head, but in between those he played a couple of classic drives for four.

Before Breese and Sanson combined to put the good batting pitch in perspective, Jamaica's batting was dull as the overcast conditions.

Openers Leon Garrick and Brenton Parchment batted together for half an hour with very little bother, adding 24 on a flat pitch after Samuels won the toss and batted.

But the breakthrough came in spectacular fashion when Parchment chased a wide ball from pacer Fernix Thomas, edging it fast and low for wicket keeper Junior Murray to dive spectacularly, rolling over to his right between first and second slip to come up with a catch from the top draw.

In the very next ball of a new over, Garrick, who up until then looked as a player in form, striking three fours in the process, played carelessly outside the off stump, edging a more straight forward catch to Murray off a tight Deighton Butler.

When the rains came after 55 minutes of play Jamaica were 44 for two - and the players did not return until after tea.

Soon after the resumption Ricardo Powell, 25, who on both sides of the showers punished anything lose went to a sharp catch at forward short leg by Rommel Currency of a persistent Thomas, who ended the day with two for 51.

Then came the late afternoon madness, before Breeze and Sanson brought sanity back.

* SOURCE: West Indies Cricket Board.