Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer
Jamaica were firmly in charge at the end of the first day of their WICB Four-day tournament encounter against Guyana at Sabina Park.
Jamaica, led by four wicket hauls from off-spinner Jamie Merchant all-rounder Andre Russell dismissed a depleted Guyana outfit for a 117 half way through the second session of the day.
The 24-year-old Merchant, playing in only his second first class fixture, claimed four for 29, while Russell picked up four for 33.
The Guyanese are playing without the experienced duo of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who were both left out because of minor hand and back injuries, respectively.
Jamaica, in reply, closed the day on a commanding 89 for one with young left-handed opener John Campbell ending on 32 not out and Nkrumah Bonner, nine.
Opener Horace Miller, who entertained with some crisp drives and flicks out of his pads before being caught for 46 with less than five overs to go, is the batsman to be dismissed.
"It was a good opening day for us," said Jamaica captain Junior Bennett. "I thought after winning the toss our fast bowlers really stood up, and gave us the kind of start that we asked for.
FORTIFY POSITION
"It is now left for us to come back tomorrow and consolidate our position and try to put the game beyond their reach.
After winning the toss and deciding to field, Jamaica, who left the out fast bowler Andrew Richardson and batsman Andre McCarthy out of their 13-man squad struck almost immediately when they had discarded West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon caught behind off the bowling Jerome Taylor for one with the score on one.
A second wicket partnership of 45 between opener Assad Fudadin, who made 21, and Vishal Singh, who got 18, then restored some lost pride for the Guyanese, however, on the dislodgement of the latter, everything went downhill for the visitors.
West Indies Twenty20 representative, Christopher Barnwell, with an uncharacteristic 34 off 80 balls, was their leading runs getter.
