Half-centuries from Tamar Lambert (55) and David Bernard (51) led Jamaica to first innings points over Guyana on the second day of their four-day Carib Beer regional first-class cricket match yesterday at Sabina Park.
Resuming the second day on four without loss, Jamaica fell for 270 in response to Guyana's 222. The 48 runs, first innings lead came despite skipper Neil McGarrell's four for 45 and his vice-captain Mahendra Nagamootoo's four for 70. They were the most successful Guyana bowlers.
Guyana in their second innings were 14 for one from three overs after Sewnarine Chattergoon was spectacularly taken at gully by Brenton Parchment off Bernard for four. Krishna Arjune, opening the batting in place of Azeemul Haniff who was struck on his leg while fielding, is unbeaten on nine.
Haniff told Stabroek Sports that though the injury was not serious he would not bat at number three today since he was advised to rest his leg.
Jamaica resumed on their overnight four without loss and by lunch yesterday had 115, losing just three wickets in the first session helped by three dropped catches in the first hour of play.
Watched by another small crowd on a day again blessed with brilliant sunshine, Parchment and Keith Hibbert took Jamaica to 12 on a track with some grass but no real pace, before Reon Thomas made the breakthrough.
Parchment, whose highest score at this level (95) was made against Guyana last year at Bourda, was lucky to survive when on eight as he edged a ball from Reon Thomas which passed waist high between Travis Dowlin and Mahendra Nagamootoo in the slip cordon.
Thomas struck in the same over when Hibert (1) was caught behind by Vishal Nagamootoo.
Donovan Pagan was dropped from first ball off Reon Griffith in the next over when Dowlin at second slip put down a catch low to his left. With the score on 20 Mahendra Nagamootoo again spared Pagan, dropping him at first slip off Griffith.
Pagan (24) was caught behind off Mahendra Nagamootoo at 57 for two after hitting four fours in his 28-ball innings, while Parch-ment was also removed by Naga-mootoo at 80 for three.
Parchment hammered five fours and two sixes in his 41 from 57 balls and 86 minutes of batting as the Jamaicans were allowed to score far too quickly by Guyana.
Lambert (19) in only his second game at this level and Bernard (18) saw their team to lunch as 101 runs were scored in the first session.
After the interval Lambert got to his second half-century in his third innings at this level but soon provided Nagamootoo with his third catch behind the stumps. The burly Lambert played his favou-rite cut shot and edged a ball, which bounced from McGarrell to leave the score on 177 for four and end the 97-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Lambert's 55 was decorated with five fours and a six and lasted 102 balls and 115 minutes.
Bernard got to his third 50 at this level but he too failed to carry on and was taken at first slip by Mahendra Nagamootoo off McGarrell for 51 at 194 for five. His innings lasted 128 balls, 171 minutes and included six fours.
Mario Ventura hit two fours in his ten, but was then bowled by McGarrell at 197 for six on the stroke of tea.
After tea, Daren Gareth Breese (15) was sent back by Naga-mootoo at 227 for seven as Narsingh Deonarine held a brilliant catch at cover just after Jamaica had taken first innings points.
McInnins (five) was soon sent packing by McGarrell at 238 for eight as Guyana fought back.
Andrew Richardson (two) was then brilliantly run out by Lennox Cush from short mid-wicket at the non-striker's end at 246 for nine before a last wicket stand of 34 runs frustrated the Guyanese.
Nehemiah Perry, batting with a hamstring injury and a runner, played intelligently for his 33 before he seemed very unlucky to be given out LBW to Nagamootoo 27 minutes before the scheduled close.
The Jamaica innings should have ended at 260 when Arjune, who was outstanding in the field yesterday, took a magnificent diving catch running back from mid-on as Ryan Cunningham faced Nagamootoo.
However, umpire Dalton Holder, after asking Arjune if he had taken the catch cleanly and the fielder responded that he had, then said not out. Television replays confirmed that the catch was taken cleanly.
Cunningham finished on seven not out as Holder adjudged Perry, who hit three fours in his 60-ball innings, LBW to end the Guyana innings.
Parchment's sharp catch at slip to remove Chattergoon then ended an interesting day's play with the Guyanese still 34 runs in arrears.
With two days remaining, the game is still wide open going into the penultimate day today.
Coach Albert Smith said he was pleased with the Guyana fight back today but added that the standard of fielding was below what was expected at this level. Smith feels that there is enough time in the game for Guyana to force for an outright win.
"Jamaica has to bat last on a track where the odd ball is already beginning to keep low and if Nagamootoo and McGarrell bowl well in the second innings we could pull this one off," Smith said.
He however added that today the batsmen would need to put their heads down and give Guyana a lead of close to 300 runs.