Reifer... 21 not out.
BRIDGETOWN, CMC:
BARBADOS RECOVERED from shaky start against Jamaica on a rain-shortened opening day's play in their key third round Carib Beer Series match at the island's newest first-class venue, Mount Gay North Stars, Crab Hill in the northern parish of St. Lucy.
At the close, the championship leaders were 89 for three off 28 of the scheduled 35 overs which were to be bowled after they were put in, and when fading light ended play at 5.47 p.m. Kurt Wilkinson was on 32 and Floyd Reifer, 21.
Play started at 3.40 p.m. -- 40 minutes after the slated tea resumption following a damp spot at the bowlers' run-up at the northern end of the ground.
Officials of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) conceded the problem could have been avoided had there been more covers, which they later requested and had brought to the ground from their headquarters at Kensington Oval in the capital city.
Barring no more rain, the Playing Conditions will help the cause of the setback as play is scheduled to start half-an-hour early on the next three days and go to at least 6 p.m. Even so, the inadequate covers embarrassed for the BCA.
Barbados started disastrously, losing their long-standing openers Sherwin Campbell without scoring and Philo Wallace for six in the space of three balls with only seven runs scored.
Essaying a drive, Campbell edged pacer Darren Powell to third slip where the ball was pushed up by Mario Ventura for Gareth Breese to complete the catch at second slip in the fifth ball of the day's second over.
Wallace then edged pacer Franklyn Rose low to the right of wicket-keeper Keith Hibbert, who gleefully gobbled up the catch.
There was positive strokeplay from Kurt Wilkinson and Ryan Hinds as they sought to rebuild the innings with both finding the boundaries, Hinds down the ground and Wilkinson through the covers.
Hinds, playing his first match of the season after he was called up as a late replacement for injured Jamaican Marlon Samuels in the West Indies World Cup squad in South Africa and then replaced by the same player following a clearance by the ICC on doctors' advice, looked the part until he gifted his wicket.
The left-hander had counted five boundaries in 23 when he walked into a drive against medium-pacer David Bernard's sixth ball after he replaced Rose and provided a regulation catch to Hibbert.
Wilkinson, who scored only eight in his previous three innings this season, looked the part in a knock which has so far lasted a shade under two hours and has included five fours.
Reifer has been at the crease for 62 minutes, facing 52 balls.
Barbados made one change to the their team with Hinds coming in for fast bowler Antonio Thomas, while Jamaica showed three changes - opener Leon Garrick and Rose both returning after dropped for the second round and off-spinning all-rounder Gareth Breese having his first match of the season following knee surgery.
SCOREBOARD
Barbados first innings
P. Wallace c wk Hibbert b Rose 6
S. Campbell c Breese b Powell 0
K. Wilkinson not out 32
R. Hinds c wkp Hibbert b Bernard 23
F. Reifer not out 21
Extras (w1, nb6) 7
TOTAL (3 wks, 28 overs) 89
Fall: 1-7, 2-7,3-49.
To bat: D.Smith, +C.Browne, R.Hurley, I.Bradshaw, S.Benn, T.Best.
Bowling: Rose 5-0-32-1 (nb4), Powell 6-1-21-1 (nb1), Bernard 7-2-19-1 (w1), Perry 8-3-15-0 (nb1), Breese 2-0-2-0.
Umpires: Clyde Duncan (Guyana), Vincent Bullen (Barbados).
Toss: Jamaica
