By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterJAMAICA'S UNDER-19 cricketers, preparing for the Regional Championships, found runs hard to come by on yesterday's penultimate day of their three-day practice match against a select Jamaica XI at Kensington Park.
The Simon Jackson-led youngsters were reeling at 160 for six chasing the 366 made by the Carlton Baugh Jnr.-led Jamaica select XI.
Resuming yesterday's second day on 302 for eight with Vinard Woolcock on 32 and Odean Brown on 11, they along with Kamal Dennis, three, added another 64 runs for the Select team's two remaining wickets.
Woolcock pegged his way to 51 while Brown was left unbeaten on 39. Gavin Wallace, who had figures of 3-62 on the opening day, ended with 4-87.
At their turn at bat, the young Jamaican were reeling at 93 for five when Donovan Sinclair, 66 (3x4, 1x6), and Jamie Goodheart, 29 (2x4), saved them from embarrassment.
However, as things started to look good for the boys, Sinclair, the younger brother of national wicketkeeper/batsman Matthew, fell. He tried to hit Odean Brown (2-20) over long-on but an alert Kacey Saunds went high to take a one-handed catch, at which time the match was called off.
Earlier, with 50 minutes to bat before lunch, the young Jamaicans were in early trouble losing last year's tournament top all-rounder Xavier Marshall for zero, leg before to Kamal Dennis (2-17), and Andre Hall, 10, bowled by Evon McInnis (1-17), at 11 for two.
Things did not get any better when three members of last year's squad, Jackson, 10, Howard Powell, seven, and Chadwick Walton, 16, became other early victims.
Marshall, who was playing his first game in Jamaica after a short stint with Sale Cricket Club in England, told The Gleaner about his experience abroad.
"It was a good experience," Marshall, who was not available for the trial matches, said. However, the right-handed batsman added that things were a lot harder in England than what he was used to here.
"It was difficult due to the different weather conditions. The ball swung around more there," Marshall said. "You have to be more selective, concentrate harder, unlike here in Jamaica, because the pitches are slower."
After scoring one century (135), one half century (93), a number of 40s and taking 13 wickets in seven matches, Marshall believes he will now be a better strokeplayer.
"The experience will help me especially in my aggression and strokeplay," the York Castle student added.
While claiming training was basically the same, Marshall, who was a member of the victorious West Indies Under-15 team to the 2001 World Cup, said the main difference was that "we go to the gym more often".
