Lambert

Chairman of selectors Courtnay Daley says a combination of poor batting and tactical maneouvers on the part of captain Tamar Lambert on the final day were the main reasons Jamaica lost to Trinidad and Tobago last weekend in the semi-final of the West Indies Cricket Board four-day tournament.

"I think we lost some momentum in the closing stages of the game, and that eventually cost us the match," said Daley.

"The skipper made some mistakes on the final day. He did not rotate Miller properly in the second innings and in tandem with Bernard Jr," he added.

"After a recovery in the first innings to post a competitive total, our specialist batsmen did not do us any justice.

"It's a problem that has been plaguing us all season and we tried to make selections to adjust it, but in the end they could not get it together."

Jamaica, who lost the match by three wickets, were losing for the first time this season.

experienced players

However, they have had problems with their openers and top order batsmen, with experienced players such as Brenton Parchment, Xavier Marshall, Danza Hyatt, Simon Jackson, and Lambert struggling to make an impact.

The same could also be said of young players Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood and Andre McCarthy, who, despite showing glimpses of their potential, were unable to string up consistent performances.

This left the team's middle to lower order batting led by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr, all-rounder David Bernard Jr and spinner Nikita Miller to bring back the team from disasterous positions.

However, against Trinidad, after being at one stage 143 for nine and making 246 in their first innings, the middle to lower order failed to deliver in the second innings, and the team could only manage 102.

Trinidad, who made 172 in their first innings and set 176 to win in their second, achieved their target at 179 for nine.

"It was simply irresponsible batting."

Bernard Jr claimed the first six wickets in Trinidad's second innings to leave them at 73 for six at one stage in their victory chase.

A defiant 50, however, from all-rounder Imran Khan, 32 from young wicketkeeper batsman Stephen Katwaroo, and 25 not out from Rayad Emrit saw Trinidad to safety.

Miller ended with one for 31 from 18 overs.