NAIN, St Elizabeth, (CMC) - Fluent middle-order batsman David Bernard stroked an unbeaten half-century as Jamaica fended off a diligent Windward Islands bowling attack on the opening day of their Carib Beer International Challenge semifinal match yesterday.
Sent in to bat, home side Jamaica closed at 215 for six at the Alpart Sports Club with Bernard not out on 69 and veteran Nehemiah Perry on 22.
Off-spinner Shane Shillingford, with two for 48 off 18 overs, has so far led the disciplined Windwards bowling attack.
Jamaica got off to a terrible start when top batsman and captain Chris Gayle departed without scoring off the second ball of the match.
Pushing at a delivery from the in-form Fernix Thomas, Gayle edged to wicketkeeper Lyndon James.
Donovan Pagon joined Maurice Kepple and averted any immediate further slipping with a solid partnership that saw out the remainder of the session.
From a lunchtime position of 62 for one, the Jamaican pair continued to play steadily, posting 88 for the third wicket, until Shillingford and pacer Deighton Butler triggered a sudden slide.
Jamaica plunged to 90 for four from the relative comfort of 88 for one after Shillingford dislodged Kepple (39) and Tamar Lambert (1), and Butler sent back Pagon (45).
Kepple, who struck two fours and a six -- over long-on -- off Shillingford, attempted to sweep the off-spinner and top-edged a catch to Devon Smith at backward square at 88 for two, and without addition to the score, Butler got Pagon’s wicket in the following over.
The former West Indies youth batsman had looked solid in an innings littered with fluent drives, but chased a wide delivery from Butler and edged for James to take a smart diving catch, low to his right.
Pagon faced 124 balls and struck five boundaries in his innings.
Two runs later, Lambert swept Shillingford straight to Butler on the square leg boundary and it became 132 for five when Keith Hibbert (17) gave James his third catch behind the stumps, flashing at seamer Darren Sammy.
West Indies reserve wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh lived dangerously and perished for 11 via run-out.
On seven, he was bowled behind his back by a no-ball from Lewis as he attempted to sweep, and moments later saw Sammy fail to clutch a sharp chance at second slip after he tried to cut a delivery from Thomas.
Baugh was run-out -- as he responded to Bernard’s call for a sharp single -- by a dashing Butler, whose smart pick-up and direct hit found the little right-hander short of his ground.
But the Windwards would have no further success in the session as Perry provided sturdy support for Bernard.
The 22-year-old Bernard, who played one Test match (against Australia) last year and four One-Day Internationals, stroked eight fours and a six in a 129-ball knock as he took aim at a second first-class century.
Bernard and Perry, who has hit two boundaries, have so far added 45 runs for the seventh wicket.
Thomas ended the day with tidy figures of one for 33 off 16 overs, while Butler, one for 38 off 17, and Sammy, one for 38 off 14, were also economical.
Leg-spinner Lewis went wicket-less but conceded only 46 runs off his 23 overs and bowled eight maidens.
Jamaica made one change to their seventh-round side, recalling the 35-year-old Perry to replace injured captain Gareth Breese, and the Windwards' side is unchanged.
JAMAICA 1st innings
C.Gayle c wkp. James b Thomas 0
M.Kepple c Smith b Shillingford 39
D.Pagon c wkp. James b Butler 45
T.Lambert c Butler b Shillingford 1
K.Hibbert c wkp. James b Sammy 17
D.Bernard not out 69
C.Baugh run-out 11
N.Perry not out 22
Extras: (lb-3, nb-8) 11
Total: (for 6 wickets) 215
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-88, 3-88, 4-90, 5-132, 6-170.
Bowling: Thomas 16-5-33-1 (nb-2), Butler 17-5-38-1 (nb-1), Sammy 14-2-38-1, Lewis 23-8-46-0 (nb-3), Shillingford 18-4-48-2 (nb-2) Martin 1-0-4-0, Smith 2-0-5-0.