Jamaica's middle order batsman Carlton Baugh Jnr. watches the ball after playing a stroke through the offside on the way to scoring a century on the second day of their Carib Beer Series fourth round match against Guyana at Kensington Park yesteday.
-Junior Dowie photo
Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
JAMAICA, THANKS to a maiden first-class century from Brenton Parchment and a lusty ton from Carlton Baugh Jnr., batted themselves into a near impregnable position for at least first innings points in their fourth-round Carib Beer series clash with Guyana at Kensington Park yesterday.
At stumps on the second day, the hosts had amassed 410 for six declared and, although rain had reduced the opening day to only 32 overs, were in prime position to push for an outright win with two days remaining.
In the gloom last night, Guyana had advanced to 13 without loss before bad light was called after a mere three overs with Ryan Ramdass on two and Krishna Arjune nine.
Resuming at 91-2 yesterday, Parchment (51) and skipper Tamar Lambert (two) had little trouble negotiating the spin of Damodar Daesrath, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Imran Jafferally and Narsingh Deonarine through most of the first session.
FULL-OUT ASSAULT
They were prevented from launching a full-out assault due to some reasonably tight bowling and cynical field placings, but they comfortably advanced the score to 184 with only a few hiccups.
At 133, Parchment was dropped by Daesrath at cover off Nagamootoo when he was on 69 and Lambert survived a tough caught- and bowled- chance off the Daesrath 36 runs later when he was within 10 of his half century.
Parchment, in particular, looked at ease on a pitch which may contain some pace but has been of little help to the spinners and brought up a well-deserved ton with a straight drive off Deonarine.
He then saluted the sparse crowd and his teammates in the changing room and then promptly got out attempting the same stroke caught at slip by Mahendra Nagamootoo. His even hundred included nine boundaries and a six and his lapse left the team at 184 for three.
After the day's play, Parch-ment, who has neared the century mark on a number of occasions for Jamaica, said he did not know he was in the 90s until Lambert walked down the pitch and told him.
"I think I would have been
better off not knowing that," the 22-year-old opener said. "But then, I just took each delivery as just another ball ... it didn't affect me that much," he said.
"I was disappointed I got out straight after but I hope this innings will be a launching pad for me and I hope I can just work harder and make more runs for Jamaica," said Parchment, who added the pitch was more bouncy yesterday after the opening day's rain.
MOST CONSISTENT
Lambert, Jamaica's most consistent batsman in the series to date, perished soon after the lunch break which was taken with the hosts at 207-3 while looking well-set for his maiden first-class ton. He attempted to sweep a legside delivery from Deonarine and managed only to bottom edge the ball into 'keeper Vishal Nagamootoo's hands for a pure reflex catch. His 61 included five fours and left Jamaica at a batting crossroads at 216 for five.
Keith Hibbert (18), fell 15 runs later, caught by Ramdass at short cover off Deonarine and the Guyanese must have been scenting a collapse which has been almost a fait accompli in most Carib Beer games this season as the ball has dominated the bat.
However, West Indian representatives David Bernard (88, two sixes and seven fours) and Carlton Baugh, whose even century included three sixes (off Nagamootoo over deep cover) and seven fours, then set about shutting Guyana out of the game with some lusty hitting in a potentially match-winning 167-run stand.
While Bernard was by no means a shrinking violet and was pehaps a little unfortunate to be adjudged leg before, the diminutive Baugh stole the show with strong but correct batting primarily through the 'V'.
When Baugh brought up his well-deserved century with a cut through backward point, the Jamaicans declared with their sights firmly set on a fourth straight Carib Beer series win.
