Jamaica's middle-order batsman, Wavell Hinds, in action against Barbados, during the fourth and final day of their WICB Regional Four-day Championship match, at Kensington Park yesterday. Hinds scored an unbeaten 59. - ricardo makyn

kingston, (cmc)

Dave Bernard Jr and Wavell Hinds stroked composed, unbeaten half-centuries to rescue Jamaica from an unstable position and ferry them to a comfortable six-wicket win over Barbados yesterday.

Bernard scored 60 while Hinds got 59 in an unbroken 122-run, fifth-wicket stand that hauled the hosts around from a precarious position of 81 for four and lifted them to 203 for four to ensure Jamaica's third win on the trot in the WICB Regional four-day tournament.

Set 201 on the final day at Kensington Park after Barbados were bowled out at the close of the third day on Sunday, Jamaica stumbled and stuttered as left-arm seamer Pedro Collins (2-39) and left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds (2-53) made early inroads.

Derailed victory bid

Barbados' victory bid was derailed, however, by Bernard and Hinds, who spent 159 minutes and 216 balls over their crucial stand, to seal the visitors' fate.

Coming together just after lunch when captain Tamar Lambert was bowled by Ryan Hinds without adding to his 25 at the interval, the duo defied the Barbados bowlers, keeping them wicketless in the post-lunch session before achieving victory at 3.54 p.m. (4.54 p.m. Eastern Caribbean time).

Bernard counted 133 balls in 159 minutes at the crease, striking six fours while Wavell Hinds, the discarded West Indies batsman, faced 148 balls in 178 minutes of batting, hitting two fours and a six.

A Jamaica victory hung in the balance, however, prior to lunch as Barbados' attack, robbed of the services of injured fast bowler Tino Best, grabbed the initiative.

Collins removed Brenton Parchment for 10 to a catch by Jonathan Carter low down at point with the score on 21 and then struck again 11 runs later, having Donovan Pagon snared at slip by Ryan Hinds without scoring, after facing just nine balls.

Safe haven

Danza Hyatt, who scored 27, and Lambert then added 41 for the third wicket and seemed set to take Jamaica to the safe haven of lunch.

But on the stroke of the interval, Hyatt's two-hour vigil was ended when he was caught at the wicket off Ryan Hinds after striking four fours off 92 balls.

His dismissal handed Barbados the momentum again, and soon after the resumption, Lambert was bowled for his lunch-time score of 25, off 67 balls with two fours.

At this stage, Barbados were buoyant but they were slowly brought back down to earth over the next two hours as an unruffled Bernard and Hinds combined to blunt their attack.

Jamaica's Wavell Hinds salutes the crowd after reaching his 50. - ricardo makyn

David Bernard Jr on his way to a half-century against Barbados at Kensington Park yesterday.