CRICKET:IRELAND'S THREE-day game against Jamaica played out to a tame draw after the home side declared their second innings on 315 for seven an hour after tea on the final day at Chedwin Park in Spanish Town
The Jamaicans showed no sign of declaring earlier and setting a target for the last session, with all 11 of Ireland’s side having a bowl.
Skipper William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien even picked up first international wickets that will no doubt form a tricky table quiz question in years to come.
Andre Russell took advantage of some gentle bowling to help himself to 109 off 67 balls, including seven fours and ten sixes, with Gary Kidd’s last over going for 27 runs.
Earlier, Danza Hyatt secured his second half-century of the match as Jamaica’s openers made it to lunch unbeaten on 91.
Ireland’s luck changed after the interval with Hyatt departing for 53, with the score on 100, when he hit Andre Botha straight to Niall O’Brien at long-off after Gary Wilson took over wicketkeeping duties in the second innings.
A 58-run partnership between Brenton Parchment and Donovan Pagon was ended when Kidd held a return catch to remove Pagon for 16 and start a mini-collapse as Jamaica lost three wickets in eight balls.
Paul Stirling bowled Horace Miller for a duck, while Parchment went for 83 off the next ball as sub fielder John Mooney held a running catch off the bowling of Kidd.
There was some concern for Ireland when Stirling had to leave the field with a hand injury with Niall O’Brien having to finish the over.
And O’Brien would go on claim his first wicket for Ireland when Carlton Baugh was caught by Andrew White.
Jamaica first innings 339 (D Barnard 102, T Lambert 68, P Connell 4-77), Ireland first innings 275 (P Stirling 65, N O’Brien 62, A Russell 4-41).
JAMAICA Second Innings
D Hyatt c N O’Brien b Botha 53
B Parchment c sub (Mooney) b Kidd 83
D Pagon cb Kidd 16
H Miller b Stirling 0
A Russell not out 109
C Baugh c White b N O’Brien 19
A Dewar b Kidd 9
A Richardson not out 1
Extras (b3 lb10) 13
Total (for 7 wkts, 67 ovs) 315
Did not Bat: T Lambert, D Bernard.
Fall: 1-100, 2-158, 3-159, 4-159, 5-205, 6-230, 7-272.
Bowling: P Connell 7-0-37-0; T Johnston 5-1-12-0; K O’Brien 5-1-21-0; A Cusack 5-1-13-0; G Kidd 13-1-103-3; P Stirling 16.3-5-47-1; A Botha 7-1-19-1; A White 1-0-7-0; N O’Brien 1.3-0-12-1; W Porterfield 6-1-29-1; G Wilson 2-0-2-0.
Match Drawn