WEST Indies batsmen Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin, playing for Kingston CC in the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup competition, stroked identical scores of 42 not out to lead the former champions' fight back against Lucas on yesterday's rain-interrupted opening day.

At close of play, Kingston reached 95-1 in their second innings after Lucas took a slim 10-run first innings lead on a day where a total of 20 wickets fell. Play is slated to resume at 9:30 this morning.

Scores: Kingston 77-9 and 95-1; Lucas 87.

Kingston batted first and were immediately on the backfoot as Fudadin was trapped lbw wicket by medium-pacer Markon Guy for five and fellow seamer Dwayne Guthrie bowled Deonarine for one.

On a pitch that seemed good for batting, the home team was restricted for 77-9 after middle-order batsman Brian Latore retired hurt due to a head injury.

All-rounder Garth Garvey was the top scorer with 35.

Guthrie did most damage with 4-22 off 12 overs, while Ramon Senior took 2-10. Guy finished with 1-14.

Lucas hardly fared better in their reply and were dismantled for 87 by the spin of Fredrick Hermitt, who took 4-17 off eight overs and five balls and Deonarine, who snared 4-17 off 12 overs.

Batting a second time, Kingston lost opener Andre Bryce (nine) to Senior, but saw their chance of pulling off an outright win increase when Deonarine joined Fudadin and brought Kingston to the close without further loss.

The Guyanese left-handed pair, who have been delayed in joining the rest of the West Indies squad in England due to lack of British visas, reportedly did interviews at the embassy on Thursday and are expected to acquire their travel documents early this week.

It is understood that obtaining a British visa in Guyana can take up to three weeks; hence Jamaica was seen as the most suitable location to apply for the permit.

A senior JCA source told the Jamaica Observer that "apparently the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) did their checks and saw Jamaica as the best place" to hand in their applications".

The source added: "Trinidad is a Republic, so that country would have been out of the question and in the case of Barbados, the WICB found that it would take longer there than in Jamaica."

Fudadin, who is enjoying his first call to the senior team, told the Observer he and Deonarine registered to play for Kingston to get some "practice" and keep sharp ahead of the trip to England.

"I'm using this game to get some batting practice and to get a feel of playing competitive cricket. The important thing is to play and that is what I wanted, to get that feel of playing and to have bowlers running in at me.

"It's better than being at the hotel because you are batting or in the field. I know this game is going to benefit me," said the 26-year-old.

In another Senior Cup clash, Melbourne were 26-1 in reply to Kensington's 185 all out at Kensington Park. Scores: Kensington 185; Melbourne 26-1.