Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
A LATE afternoon collapse left Jamaica in a precarious position against Barbados entering today's second day of their TCL Group West Indies Under-19 three-day championship match at the Police's Ground, Elletson Road.
Jamaica, choosing to bat, were well-placed at 226 for four but slipped to 249 for eight when stumps were drawn yesterday.
Apart from Zaniffe Fow-ler, who made 86, the Jam-aican middle-order failed miserably, this again was due to lack of discipline and patience.
Yesterday's performance had one spectator saying on his way home: "a waste man a waste dem time cum watch dem boy yah".
SOLID PLATFORM
In what has become the norm, openers Xavier Mars-hall (48, 5x4, 1x6) and Yanick Elliott (30, 4x4) again provided the local boys with a solid 70-run platform.
Even though Marshall and Elliott got themselves out in foolish ways, the middle order again failed to carry on from a good start.
Elliott was dismissed caught behind to a ball from left-arm spinner Steve Pinder that he could have left alone while Marshall was careless in running himself out going back for a second run.
Captain Jamie Trench-field continued to find the going tough, trying to hit over the top, picked out Tariq Hoyte at mid-on. He contributed only one.
Wayne Morgan joined Fowler, who came in at the fall of Marshall's wicket. The two put on 71 for the fourth wicket but Morgan fell to a tame shot for 27, hitting straight back at Pinder, who bowled 24 overs on the trot.
SEEKING SUPPORT
Fowler, the only Jamaican to score a century at the regional Under-15 level, continued to plug away while desperately seeking support. Albert Gopie joined Fowler but just as things began to look bright for the home side, Pinder picked up two wickets in two overs. The spinner first removed Fowler and then Gopie.
Although he gave away his wicket (caught at mid-wicket), Fowler's knock of 86, which included seven fours and lasted for 192 minutes, was the anchor of Jamaica's innings. Gopie contributed 27 in the fifth wicket stand.
Denva Passley, two, and Dennis Bulli, two, were the other batsmen to be dismissed, but Jeffrey Scott, 13, and Alton Beckford, yet to score, will be trying to carry on for Jamaica today. Pinder has so far taken five for 64 off 32 overs.
Scoreboard
Jamaica first innings
X. Marshall run out 48
Y. Elliot c Payne b Pinder 30
Z. Fowler c Squires b R. Parris 86
J. Trenchfield c Hoyte b Pinder 1
W. Morgan c and b Pinder 27
A. Gopie c Grazette b Pinder 27
J. Scott not out 15
D. Passley c Yearwood b Pinder 2
D. Bulli b Yearwood 2
A. Beckford not out 0
Extras (b2, lb4, nb5) 11
TOTAL (for eight wkts) 249
Fall: 1-70, 2-91, 3-109, 4-180, 5-227, 6-227, 7-234, 8-244.
Bowling: Brathwaite 9-0-23-0, Yearwood 13-1-44-1, Pinder 34-12-64-5, Stoute 6-0-30-0, Hoyte 14-2-49-0, Stanford 2-0-12-0,R. Parris 13-4-21-1.
