KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Donovan Pagon and captain Tamar Lambert hit half-centuries but Jamaica suffered a batting collapse after Guyana’s spinners struck telling blows on the opening day of their Regional Four-Day semi-final here yesterday.
The right-handed Pagon gathered 53 and Lambert got 51, knocks that pushed the hosts up to 196 all out at Sabina Park, after winning the toss and opting to bat.
At the close, Guyana were struggling on 14 for one, still 182 runs adrift of first innings advantage.
Jamaica, who topped the preliminary round standings with a perfect six wins in as many outings, seemed en route to a competitive total when they cruised to 131 for three after lunch.
However, they lost their last seven wickets for 65 runs as left-arm spinner Veersammy Permaul (3-35), off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine (3-47) and Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (3-58) ripped through the middle and lower order.
Jamaica needed Lambert’s composure to weather the storm, as he faced 151 balls and struck two fours before he was last out to a catch in the deep off Deonarine.
Xavier Marshall fell cheaply for nine, bowled by fast bowler Ronsford Beaton at 32 for one but Pagon and opener Brenton Parchment stablised the innings with a 43-run stand for the second wicket.
Pagon hit one four and four sixes off 98 balls while Parchment counted two fours and one six off 77 balls.
Parchment fell on the brink of lunch at 75 for two and debutant Jermaine Blackwood’s first class debut ended after he had made 19, caught at first slip by Leon Johnson off Permaul at 98 for three.
Pagon and Lambert attempted a recovery with a 33-run, fourth wicket stand but once Pagon was lbw to Permaul at 131 for four, the innings fell apart.
