DAVID Bernard Jnr scored a silky century as Jamaica racked up 339 all out on the first day of thei SVSB-sponsored three-day Cricket Festival match against Ireland at Chedwin Park yesterday.

The visitors will begin their first innings reply at 10:00 am today.

The experienced all-rounder took 191 minutes to reach his fourth first-class ton with a quick single on the off-side, but fell soon after when he miscued a pull off seamer Peter Connell to mid-on. By then he had struck 102 from 165 deliveries, including 10 fours and a six.

Bernard Jnr also shared in a 139-run fifth-wicket stand with captain Tamar Lambert after the regional domestic champions had slumped to 115-4 during the post-lunch session.

Lambert struck five fours and two sixes in his 68 from 123 balls as the pair easily found the gaps to ensure no wickets were lost during the session.

Bernard Jr told the Sunday Observer he was satisfied with the pace of his innings but was disappointed he got dismissed soon after reaching his milestone.

“It was good to get a hundred and though I didn’t carry on much further… I’m pretty satisfied with the way I constructed the innings.

“It’s a good track for batting, so once I got in it was easy to drive through the line,” said the 28-year-old who has scored three half-centuries from his three Test matches to date.

Earlier, the Jamaican openers blazed their way to 56 before Brenton Parchment was dismissed for 31 off 32 balls.

Danza Hyatt made better use of the conditions to power his way to 55 from 82 balls and accounted for six excursions to the boundary, along with two big sixes, before he too lost his wicket when he mistimed a knee-high full toss from spinner Gary Kidd into the lap of mid-on.

Soon after, Donavan Pagon, 21, and Horace Miller, four, were dismissed to leave Lambert and Bernard Jr to rescue the innings.

Following their demise, the rest of the batting collapsed as Carlton Baugh Jnr (16) and hard-hitting lower-order batsman Andre Russell (26) failed to stay.

Connell was Ireland’s best bowler with 4-77, while offspinner Paul Stirling finished with 2-45.

Despite quick runs being scored during the day, Ireland coach Phil Simmons was happy his bowlers were able to wrap up the Jamaica innings just before the scheduled close.

“I was happy with the way we came back in the last two sessions and to get them out… The wicket was flat so it was a matter of (bowling with) consistency and getting accustomed to bowling on a wicket like this.

“When we bat it’s a matter of getting in and batting as long as possible,” said the former West Indies batsman.

Jamaica’s coach Junior Bennett was disappointed some of his batsmen did not carry on after getting starts.

“I think we played positively right , but I think we lost too many wickets. Bernard batted pretty well, but other players didn’t carry on…,” he said.