BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — An unbroken, half-century third-wicket stand between Jermaine Blackwood and Andre McCarthy put Jamaica within sight of victory and overshadowed Jonathan Carter’s second first-class hundred in the Headley/Weekes Trophy semi-final here yesterday.

Blackwood was not out on 53 and McCarthy was not out on 41, as the Jamaicans reached 106 for two in their second innings at the close of the third day of the match at Kensington Oval, still 61 adrift of victory.

The pair has so far added 86 in an unbroken third-wicket partnership to put the visitors firmly on track for a win that would give them a place in the final of the tournament against Windward Islands.

The final is scheduled to start on Saturday and the venue is likely to be the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia, once the Jamaicans complete victory.

Carter hit 111 and was the rock upon which Barbados built their second innings total of 223. He struck eight fours and one six from 167 balls in close to four hours.

The 26-year-old left-hander reached his hundred from 150 balls, when he drove Jerome Taylor to mid-off for a single.

He added 60 for the third wicket with Barbados captain Kraigg Brathwaite, and shared valuable stands of 49 with Shane Dowrich and 32 with Carlos Brathwaite.

Kraigg Brathwaite made 32, Shai Hope got 22 and Dowrich 20, as the only other Barbadian batsman to pass 20.

Taylor was the pick of Jamaica’s bowlers with three for 37 from 14.3 overs, left-arm spinner Nikita Miller grabbed three for 52 from 17 overs, left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell bagged two for 31 from 12 overs, and leg-spinner Damion Jacobs snared two for 50 from 13 overs.

Jamaica then lost Nkrumah Bonner in the second over, when he was caught at second slip for a duck off beanpole left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (2-46), who also had John Campbell caught at mid-on for 10, leaving Jamaica 20 for two.

But McCarthy came to the crease and with Blackwood played an attractive array of strokes to advance the Jamaicans’ position.

McCarthy was fortunate on two, when Ashley Nurse put him down at first slip off Benn, a chance for which the Barbadians paid dearly.

Blackwood, striking the ball crisply, started with a lofted straight six off Benn and reached his 50 from 71 balls with an exquisite back-foot drive through extra cover off Miguel Cummins.