Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Jamaica, thanks to a maiden century by Tamar Lambert and a fighting half-century by captain Wavell Hinds, battled their way to first innings lead against Guyana in their Carib Beer Series cricket match at Kensington Park yesterday.

At stumps on yesterday's second day's play, Jamaica, replying to Guyana's 205 in their first innings, were 303 for six with Lambert scoring 110 and Hinds 69.

The pair posted 176 in 243 minutes for the fourth wicket before Hinds swept at left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and was caught by substitute Assad Fuddadin at mid-wicket.

Just when it appeared that he would have batted out the day, Lambert, with eight overs to go and the shadows stretching across the field, went at right-arm leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and drove a catch straight to Reon King on the long-off boundary.

First century

Joining the action at 62 for three following the dismissal of Danza Hyatt for 11 at 62 for two and Lorenzo Ingram for 20, Lambert converted his 13th first-class 50 into his first first-class century while batting for 291minutes, facing 218 deliveries, stroking nine fours and smashing three sixes in his 27th first-class match.

All of Lambert's fours and sixes were lovely offerings, but none more so than a beautiful off-drive off pacer King that sped away to the wide long-on boundary, and a massive hit off off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine that disappeared over the wide long-on.

GUYANA 1st Innings 205 (N Deonarine 69; A Richardson 3-21)

JAMAICA 1st Innings (overnight 42 for 1)

B Parchment c Dowlin b King