GEORGETOWN, CANA:
JAMAICA held the upper hand at the close of day one of their semi-final encounter with Guyana at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground yesterday.
After winning the toss and batting, the Jamaicans, led by a half-century from opener Brenton Parchment, reached 243 for seven when stumps were drawn.
On a slow pitch of low bounce, the Jamaicans batted solidly throughout the day with Parchment's 57 being supported by 36 from Danza Hyatt, 32 from all-rounder Rashard Marshall, 31 not out from Damien Grey, 23 from Carlton Baugh and 17 not out from skipper Andrew Richardson.
For the Guyanese who sent down 118 overs during the day, fast bowler Rayon Thomas claimed 3-55 and off-spinner Kevin Bazil 3-50 from 42 overs.
A wet spot near the northern sightscreen postponed the start of play for 30 minutes after which the Jamaican captain won the toss and had no hesitation in deciding to bat.
Apart from the loss of Donovan Pagon (3) caught at second slip by Bazil off Thomas, the Jamaican batsmen were untroubled with Parchment and Hyatt taking them to Lunch at 50 for one.
After the interval the pair carried their partnership to 96 before Hyatt - after batting for 162 minutes, facing 160 balls and striking a six and a four - was trapped leg-before-wicket to Thomas who had returned for a second spell from the north.
The wiry fast bowler struck again with the score on 122 when Parchment was caught at slip by Ryan Ramdass, after batting for 209 minutes and facing 207 balls, six of which he struck to the boundary.
The Jamaicans also lost Maurice Clarke (14) before tea when the stylish right-hander was leg-before to the first delivery in a new spell by leg-spinner Ron Matthews.
After tea, taken at 150 for four, Baugh, who was dropped at mid-wicket off Kiran Siewdyal when on three, prodded forward to Bazil and was taken at silly-mid-off by Troy Cornelius - the same fielder who spilled the earlier catch.
In the other semi-final, the Windwards had scored 54 for two replying to Trinidad and Tobago's first innings score of 143 on the opening day of their clash at Enmore.
Scores: Trinidad and Tobago 143 (Richard Kelly 42, Sherwin Ganga 36, Joe Pamphille 15: Othneil Baptiste 5-12, Kenroy Peters 2-31, Camillus Alexander 2-49); Windwards 54 for two (Romel Currency 30, Devon Smith 17; Kenton Thompson 2-21).
