GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Discarded West Indies wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr rescued Jamaica with a responsible half-century on the rain-hit opening day of their finalround encounter in the Regional Four- Day Championship against Guyana here yesterday.

Languishing at 12 for four early on, the five-time defending champions were boosted by Baugh’s unbeaten 78 to reach 204 for nine at the close at the Guyana National Stadium.

On a day ruined by four stoppages for rain, the right-hander posted 89 for the seventh wicket with tail-ender Nikita Miller whose 42 proved valuable in helping Jamaica rally.

Twenty-one-year-old fast bowler Keon Joseph, who knocked over the top order, finished with three for 49 while out-offavour Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo picked up three for 51.

Opting to bat first, Jamaica lost Danza Hyatt in the fourth over, caught at mid-on by captain Veerasammy Permaul off Joseph before Brenton Parchment edged the same bowler to Steven Jacobs at second slip for one, at four for two in the eighth over.

With no runs added, fast bowler Ronsford Beaton had Nkrumah Bonner caught behind without scoring, and when Joseph removed captain Tamar Lambert’s middle stump, also without scoring, Jamaica were in strife.

The revival started through Jermaine Blackwood, who made 37, and David Bernard Jr, who made 29, in adding 46 for the fourth wicket.

Once both fell, Jamaica were on the ropes again at 88 for six until Baugh and Miller arrived on a rescue mission.

Baugh has so far faced 146 balls in 214 minutes at the crease and struck five fours, while Miller lashed five fours off 81 deliveries.

Miller was eventually lbw to Jacobs at 177 for seven, a wicket that was quickly followed by that of Andrew Richardson for one and Odean Brown, seven.

In another match, fast bowler Miguel Cummins snatched career-best figures to fire Barbados to first innings points over Trinidad and Tobago, as 17 wickets tumbled on the opening day of the final round Regional Four-Day contest in Port-of-Spain.

The right-armer claimed seven for 45 to rout T&T for a paltry 109 after the visitors were sent in on a grassy Queen’s Park Oval pitch.

Scoreboard

JAMAICA 1st Innings

vD Hyatt c Permaul b Joseph 0

B Parchment c Jacobs b Joseph 1

N Bonner c wkp Bramble b Beaton 01

*T Lambert b Joseph 0

J Blackwood lbw b Permaul 37

D Bernard Jr st Bramble b Bishoo 29

+C Baugh Jr not out 78

N Miller lbw b Jacobs 42

A Richardson lbw b Bishoo 1

O Browne lbw b Bishoo 7 S Cotterell not out 3

Extras (b2, w1, nb2) 5

TOTAL (9 wkts, 71 overs) 204

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-4, 3-4, 4-12, 5-58, 6-88, 7-177, 8-182, 9-194

Bowling: Beaton 12-3-27-1 (w1), Joseph 14-1-49-3 (nb2), Fudadin 2-1-5-0, Permaul 13-2-33-1, Bishoo 16-2-51-3, Deonarine 4-1-5-0, Jacobs 10-0-32-1.

GUYANA — *V Permaul, R Chandrika, C Hemraj, L Johnson, N Deonarine, A Fudadin, S Jacobs, +A Bramble, D Bishoo, K Joseph, R Beaton.

Toss: Jamaica.

Umpires: J Wilson, N Duguid