Determined Nash puts Jamaica in charge
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Brendan Nash sent a strong message to the West Indies selectors, plundering a double hundred that put reigning champions Jamaica in a formidable position against Guyana in the Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday.
The Australia-born left-hander was undefeated on 205 to lead the Jamaicans to 454 for nine, replying to Guyana’s first innings total of 294 at the rescheduled close on the third day of their fourth round match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
It was the second first-class double hundred Nash has scored the front-runners and helped him to make a strong claim to regain the place in the West Indies side he lost almost one year ago, following a string of low scores.
Nash reached the landmark with the last of his 18 fours, also striking one six from 378 balls in close to 8 ¼ hours of batting.
He shared successive half-century stands with Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert, all-rounder Dave Bernard Jr and West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr.
Bernard supported with 63, Baugh scored 37, and Lambert made 20.
They all defied steady, if not mesmerising bowling from West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo with five wickets for 115 runs from 45.4 overs, and Guyana captain Veerasammy Permaul with two for 110 from 48 overs.
Starting the day on 146 for three, Jamaica reached 249 for four at lunch, after Lambert was bowled by Bishoo, following an 88-run, fourth-wicket stand with Nash.
Bernard came to the crease and batted with typical, languid ease, putting on 145 for the fifth wicket with Nash before Assad Fudadin, bowling his steady medium-pace, dismissed him in the last hour before tea. He hit seven fours and one six from 128 balls in just over 2 ½ hours.
Jamaica reached 343 for five at the break, but they lost wickets at regular intervals in the final period of the day, as they tightened their grip on the match.
Baugh added 54 for the sixth wicket with Nash before he fell to Barnwell, and Bishoo grabbed the scalps of Nikita Miller for 13, Andrew Richardson for two and Odean Brown for 15.
