JAMAICA reached a commanding 259 for four in reply to England Lions’ fighting first innings total of 358 at the close of day two at Sabina Park in the seventh round match of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four-day tournament.

West Indies Test vice-captain Brendan Nash is unbeaten on 56, while with him is fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds, on five. Both will look to extend their 26-run fifth-wicket partnership at today’s scheduled 10:00 am start.

Yesterday, England Lions’ overnight batsmen Chris Woakes and Nathan Buck, resumed on 104 and two, respectively, and they proceeded to frustrate the Jamaican bowlers like they did late on day one.

The pair added 18 to the total before Woakes was caught by Marlon Samuels at second slip off left-arm seamer Sheldon Cotterell.

The 22-year-old right-hander, a member of the senior England team during a recent limited-overs series in Australia, made 115 off 140 balls and struck 13 fours and three sixes and shared in a crucial last-wicket stand of 55 with Buck, who ended unbeaten on eight.

Though being slightly expensive on Thursday’s opening day, Cotterell ended with best figures of three for 80, while Danza Hyatt took two wickets.

In reply, Jamaica’s openers Simon Jackson and Hyatt set about gathering their runs with positive intent on a batting surface which is already showing signs of uneven bounce.

Despite one scare when Hyatt was dropped by wicketkeeper James Taylor off Ben Stokes’ seam-bowling, the pair took Jamaica to the lunch break at 63 without loss.

After the break, Jackson who was the less aggressive of the two in the morning session, wheeled out several pull shots and effortless off-drives against the faster bowlers.

Hyatt then launched left-arm orthodox bowler Danny Briggs over long-off to bring up his third fifty of the season. Jackson was almost as emphatic in reaching his milestone when he thrashed Woakes’ medium-paced delivery to the backward point fence for four.

Woakes found joy soon after, however, when he bowled Hyatt (59) with one that seemed to have kept a bit low with the score on 126. He stroked five fours and lofted three sixes off 101 balls.

Jackson, who had looked particularly impressive against the seamers, went six runs later when he miscued a slog sweep off Briggs to Woakes at mid-on. The left-hander had caressed eight fours off 92 balls for his 60.

A 93-run third-wicket stand then ensued between Marlon Samuels and Nash, before the right-hander’s miscued hoick off the persistent Briggs was spectacularly caught by James Harris, running back from mid-on.

Samuels made 58 in 127 balls, and thanks to being dropped twice off difficult chances early in his innings, he was able to bring his tournament tally to an outstanding 730 runs.

Jamaica also lost the wicket of captain Tamar Lambert in the final session before Nash and Hinds pushed the Jamaicans exactly 100 runs away from first innings honours, with some sensible batting in the closing exchanges.