Samuels Leads Jamaica Run-Riot

Jamaica made full use of the excellent batting conditions at the Albion Community Development Centre ground, to reach an imposing 335 for four at the close of play on the opening day yesterday against defending champions Guyana in their 2003 Carib Beer International Shield semifinal encounter.

The not-out batsmen were David Bernard (jnr) on 64 and Gareth Breese 62, the two sharing an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of 98 in 111 minutes after joining forces after tea with the score on 237 for four.

The Jamaicans, who elected to take first strike after skipper Robert Samuels won the toss when play got under way after Friday?s blank day, were also indebted to half-centuries from the flamboyant Marlon Samuels (79) and Wavell Hinds (58).

Three dropped catches, two of them proving very decisive and costly added to Guyana?s woes on the opening day. Hinds, who arrived in Guyana late Friday night after being embroiled in discussions with the West Indies Cricket Board on behalf of the West Indies Players Association in Barbados, was badly dropped by Neil McGarrell at long-off off leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo on six; Marlon Samuels was put down by Mahendra Nagamootoo at slip off Esuan Crandon on 39 while Chris Gayle, failed to take advantage of his opportunity, adding just nine to his score after Krishna Arjune failed to hold on to sharp chance at forward short-leg off McGarrell.

Apart from these lapses, the day belonged almost entirely to the Jamaicans who are seeking revenge, following Guyana?s first innings lead in last year?s Shield final in Jamaica that allowed them to cart off the 2002 International Shield.

Openers Leon Garrick and Gayle started their innings in contrasting fashions with Garrick in a more destructive mood while Gayle, who is still struggling to find his rhythm, was the more sedate of the two.

The two raised 50 in 52 minutes before Gayle (19), who square-drove McGarrell for four, was beaten and bowled by a well-flighted delivery from the same bowler with the score on 57.

Guyana gained another success soon after when Garrick (31) went in the next over, taken at mid-off by Narsingh Deonarine just adjacent to the non-striker?s wicket, a trap deliberately set by captain Carl Hooper.

The left-handed Hinds announced his arrival by driving Nagamootoo through mid-off for four but should have been back in the pavilion two runs later but for McGarrell?s lapse.

The stylist Samuels took some time to get into his stride while Hinds was prepared to take the attack to the bowlers, hitting McGarrell for consecutive fours, one straight and the other through mid-wicket, the latter bringing up the Jamaicans? hundred.

Samuels, who was gradually getting the pace of the placid pitch, showed his undoubted class by slapping off-spinner Deonarine and McGarrell through covers for boundaries and easing Nagamootoo in the same direction.

At lunch it was 114 for two with Hinds on 34 and Samuels 20.

Samuels started the post-lunch session with a majestic on-drive off fast bowler Esuan Crandon and an exquisite cover drive off Hooper and after the let-off on 39, he and Hinds continued to dominate the varied Guyana bowling attack.

Hinds reached 50 with a cracking cover drive for four off Crandon, his ninth, which also brought up the century partnership in 99 minutes.

The tall left-hander then hoisted Hooper for a straight six but was undone by the next delivery which he drove softly to Deonarine at cover to depart for 58 which included nine fours and a six in 104 minutes off 90 balls.

Samuels, who was joined by Bernard, got to his 50 in 122 minutes off 126 balls with eight fours.

The consistent Bernard who started the match with 388 runs in 10 innings, opened his account by hitting Hooper one bounce over mid-wicket and clipping him through square leg while Samuels nonchalantly hoisted McGarrell over long-off for six and effortlessly through wide long-on off successive deliveries.

By tea, Samuels was on 75 and Bernard 33, Jamaica having added 117 runs in the session while losing the wicket of Hinds.

Samuels added four to his score, an elegant extra cover drive off fast bowler Rayon Griffith but in the same over, offered Travis Dowlin a simple catch at cover, ending the 70-run fourth-wicket partnership in 80 minutes. His fine knock included 12 fours and a six in 182 minutes off 174 balls.

Breese, who surprisingly came ahead of skipper Robert Samuels, wasted no time in joining the action, driving and pulling with consummate ease. The stocky right-hander, who hit a season-high 98 against Trinidad and Tobago, spanked Griffith through extra cover for four and treated Nagamootoo with disdain, hitting him one bounce over long-on.

Bernard reached his third half-century of the season with seven fours in 118 minutes while the 50-partnership was raised in just 32 minutes.

Breese also brought up Jamaica?s 300 in 296 minutes when he lifted Nagamootoo over mid-wicket for four and by the close had struck eight fours in 111 minutes, the same for the unfinished 98-run partnership.

Bernard?s knock has so far spanned 193 minutes with nine fours off 185 balls.

With no Jamaican recording a century in this year?s Shield/Cup tournament, both Bernard and Breese have excellent chances of doing so on the second day on the friendly Albion pitch.

Guyana left out fast bowler Reon King and middle-order batsman Andre Percival from the original 13-man squad while Jamaica omitted opener Brenton Parchment and left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham.

* From Guyana Chronicle.