Robert Samuels' XI batsman Donovan Pagon drives straight during his innings of 80 against Nehemiah Perry's XI in the Jamaica Cricket Association's final practice match at Sabina Park yesterday. -Junior Dowie photoAnthony Foster, Freelance Writer
A LATE afternoon burst from Nehemiah Perry's XI leg-spinner Odean Brown had Robert Samuels' XI against the ropes in their Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) final practice match at Sabina Park yesterday.
The players will have up to 4:00 this afternoon to impress the selectors headed by chairman Ruddy Williams, Lyndel Wright, Courtney Daley and captain Robert Samuels.
The selectors are scheduled to announce a 16-man squad at 5:00 p.m.
Replying to Perry's XI massive total of 462, Samuels' XI were in trouble at 193 for six, 269 behind on first innings.
The 21-year-old Brown, who came on as second change used the 'rough' outside the right handers' leg-stump as his target and with his bounce and turn caused many problems.
He was expensive at first but when he broke the 154-run second-wicket between opener Shawn Findlay (67) and Donovan Pagon (80), things became easy for the former Jamaica youth player.
With Brian Murphy unavailable and the selectors looking for a right-arm leg-spinner, Brown gave them a lot to think about in his 16-over spell during which he took three for 29.
He first removed Findlay, who earlier struck six fours in his 107-ball knock, leg before wicket at 158 for two.
However, things got worse for Samuels' XI and good for Brown when he got Pagon to leave his crease to a well-tossed up delivery, and wicketkeeper Matthew Sinclair pulled off a smart stumping. Pagon, in his 222 minutes stay at the crease, hit seven fours off 183 balls.
Samuels' XI slipped further in trouble when Tamar Lambert (12) ran himself out, Carlton Baugh Jr. cut Brown (four) to the diving David Bernard Jr. at point and Frankyln Rose (zero) fell to Perry (1-25).
Resuming on their overnight 404 for seven, Perry's XI added another 58 for their remaining wickets, but not before fast bowler Jerome Taylor completed his second five-wicket haul.
Taylor, a student at St. Elizabeth Technical, ended with five for 87 off 30 overs when he had Sinclair, 23, caught by Nicarlo McFarlane at square leg. The former West Indies off-spinner, Perry, was left unbeaten on 35.
Supporting Taylor's effort were McFarlane (2-59) and Rose (1-57).
Senior coach Robert Haynes said he was happy with the first two days play but felt letdown by what he saw yesterday.
"I am very disappointed with the performance of Samuels' XI," said Haynes. I though they were batting really well at 180 for two, but young Pagon played a very bad shot. At that stage of the game it was not called for. Those are some of the things we have to work on, because if this was a first class game Jamaica would be in trouble," the coach added.
