TT/Jamaica Day One Match Report
July 4th, 2008

JAMAICA under a brilliant half-century from West Indies youth opening batsman Horace Miller were in a solid position against Trinidad and Tobago on the first day of Round One in the TCL Group Regional Youth Challenge, at Banks Brewery Ground, here on Friday.

Miller's innings of 75 helped his team to close in a position of strength on 294 for seven, with Maverick Perry not out on 49 and Romeo Dunka unbeaten with 20. Debutant left unorthodox spinner Javed Boodram was the leading bowler for the T&T team with figures of three for 68 from 21 overs.

Earlier, Jamaica's captain Andre Creary won the toss and opted for first strike on a competitive batting wicket.The 2007 Limited - Over champions left out Gifton Wray, Jermaine Cole and Courtney Allen from their 14-member squad. Miller and debutant Nick Blackwood opened the batting and duo looked in good knick against the opposition's bowling attack of right-arm bowler Sheldon Dogan and left-arm pacer Nicholas Rampersad.

The pair posted 49 in 11 overs before Barath was forced to make his first bowling change, introducing former T&T U-15 captain and right-arm leg-spinner Yannick Cariah into the attack, replacing Rampersad. Miller was on 25 and the left-handed Blackwood 18.

In between, Miller went to register his fifty with a single off Boodram. The landmark came in 74 minutes off 95 deliveries and was laced with two sixes and four fours.

Shortly after the partnership was broken when Blackwood was brilliantly caught and bowled by Boodram for 30.

The Jamaicans went to lunch in the healthy position of 95 for one, with Miller on 56 and John Ross-Campbell three.

The breakthrough came when the right-handed Miller was caught at the square-leg boundary by Evin Lewis for a well played 75.

The attractive attacking batsman batted for 156 minutes, faced 105 balls and struck four fours and three sixes.

Creary joined Ross-Campbell and added nine more runs before Boodram struck again having the latter caught at mid-off by Ottley for 27, as the Jamaicans slipped to 147 for three.

Boodram struck again in the last over before tea, when he had the freescoring Creary trapped in front for 43. The Jamaicans went to the tea interval on 197 for four.

After the break, Kennar Lewis (4) partnered Perry but did not last long. He was leg before wicket to Yannick Cariah, as the Jamaicans stumbled to 206 for five. Garth Garvey (29) joined Perry and added a further 40, before with the introduction of the new ball broke the threatening partnership when Garvey was snapped at second slip by Barath off Dogan's bowling.

At the other end, Rampersad accounted for Jermaine Blackwood (7). Perry and Dunka then saw their team to the close.  

Toss: Jamaica
Umpires: V Bullen & R Brathwaite
Stand-by - G Brathwaite