TRELAWNY, Jamaica, CMC

Discarded wicketkeeper/ batsman Carlton Baugh smashed a stroke-filled, unbeaten century to rally Jamaica on the opening day of their three-day tour match against Australia yesterday.

The right-handed Baugh blasted 111 off just 88 balls, as Jamaica were dismissed for 297, after winning the toss and batting first at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

At the close, Australia had cruised to 89 without loss with Phil Jaques unbeaten on 44 and Simon Katich on 35.

Baugh, who has not played for the West Indies since the 2006 Champions Trophy final, struck nine fours and two sixes in an innings that lifted the hosts after they had slumped to 135 for five at lunch.

He found a willing ally in Gavin Wallace (22) with whom he shared an 89-run, ninth wicket stand, to rally the innings after Jamaica slipped to 205 for eight.

The hosts made a solid start with openers Brenton Parchment and Simon Jackson posting 51 for the first wicket.

Jackson hit 29 off 38 balls with two fours and a six while Parchment scored 25 from 22 balls with four fours, as Jamaica got a rollicking start.

Parchment was the first to fall when he gave Ricky Ponting the first of his three catches. Jackson added 32 for the second wicket with Xavier Marshall whose 30 came from 51 balls and included six fours.

Jackson, Marshall, Lorenzo Ingram (10) and Shaun Findlay (6) then fell in quick succession as a clatter of wickets saw Jamaica tumble to 118 for five.

Donovan Sinclair (16) shared in 42-run sixth wicket stand with Baugh before he fell and the cheap dismissals of Nikita Miller (9) and Andre Russell (10), left Jamaica in dire straits.

Baugh and Russell then frustrated the tourists to put up a decent score.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill was the leading bowler with four for 79 while left-arm spinner Simon Katich (2-51) and left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson (2-64), claimed two wickets each.

Jaques then lashed seven fours off 76 balls and Katich counted four boundaries in his 40-ball knock, to give Australia a solid start.