BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Middle order batsman Brad Barnes stroked a half-century as leaders Jamaica played it safe against their nearest challengers Guyana, on the opening day of their final round match in the Regional Under-19 Championship here Thursday.

The Jamaicans batted all day – and slowly – to end on 183 for nine with Barnes top-scoring with 64, Rajni Roye, 27 and Andre McCarty, 23.

Seamer Ronaldo Ali Mohammed was the best bowler with five for 29 while left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd claimed three for 52.

Sent in at Conaree, Jamaica lost Darren Small without scoring to the second ball of the day with a single run on the board before McCarty, Barnes and Roye rehabilitated the innings.

McCarty put on 36 for the second wicket with Carlos Brown (four) but when both fell in successive overs to leave Jamaica wobbling on 39 for three, Barnes then anchored two partnerships to key Guyana at bay.

First, he put on 37 for the fourth wicket with Raewin Senior (seven) before adding a further 44 for the fifth with Stephan Pink who made 14.

All told, Barnes struck seven fours off 147 deliveries.

Again, both fell in quick succession but Roye led a 35-run seventh wicket stand with Dominic Samuels (19) as the inning recovered again.

However, Ali Mohammed returned to snatch two late wickets as Jamaica lost three quick wickets for just 17 runs.

Jamaica entered the game top of the standings on 55.5 points but just 5.5 clear of the chasing Guyana.

At St Paul’s, opener Shian Brathwaite struck a swift hundred as Barbados snatched the advantage against Windward Islands.

Brathwaite made 101 off 104 balls with 12 fours and three sixes as his third-placed side finished the day on 177 for two in reply to the Windwards’ 121 all out.