NATIONAL senior team cricket coach Junior Bennett yesterday expressed satisfaction with the discipline level of the players taking part in the current trial matches in Kingston. "It is very good, and I am very impressed with that aspect of the cricket," said the coach, who is in his second year with the senior team. Bennett, who has had success with Jamaican junior squads in recent years, said this augurs well for the team, which will challenge for its first regional one-day title in almost a decade.

"Once it is like that, you have no doubt in your mind that they are going to do well (for the team)," said Bennett.

On the pitch, Donovan Pagon, Brendon Nash and Nkrummah Bonner fell short of half centuries as Pagon's XI defeated Shawn Findlay's XI by 27 runs at Elleston Road yesterday.

Pagon scored 43 and Bonner ended on 42 not out as Pagon's XI scored 215 for nine off 47 overs. Danza Hyatt chipped in with 38. Xavier Marshall took 2-54 and Odean Brown got 2-38. In reply, Nash hit 46 and, along with Brown, 38, Schacoya Thomas, 30, and Marshall, 20, Findlay's XI were dismissed for 188. Alton Beckford was the pick of the Pagon team's bowlers, taking 4-33. Krishmar Santokie and Dwight Stewart supported him with 3-20 and 2-38 respectively. Bennett said he was fairly satisfied with the performances of the players so far.

Improvement

"So far it's not too bad, we have seen improvement in all aspects of the game, so we just have to keep going," he added.

Several of the island's top players are expected to join the squad for today's trial match, also scheduled for Elleston Road, including Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Daren Powell.

Also today, the present squad will be cut to facilitate the senior players. "We have to cut from this group. We don't want to have the last four or five trial matches with 30 odd players. The selectors are going to cut to 24 players," said Bennett.