Jamaica's Under-19 wicket-keeper Kirk Harris celebrating the fall of a Trinidad and Tobago wicket on Thursday. - photo by Ian Allen

Jamaica will have to bat really well if they are to avoid losing the first innings in their first-round TCL Group WICB Under-19 Three-day Cup showdown against regional rivals Trinidad and Tobago at the Kensington Oval.

Jamaica, who lost the toss on day one and have been playing catch-up since on a flat batting track, closed the day on 148-4, still 279 runs behind the visitors' huge first-innings score of 427-7 declared, with half of their top batsmen gone.

The Trinidadians, who are defending one-day champions, were piloted to the highest score of the six-team championship, thanks to a sublime 126 from captain, Yannick Ottey.

"The wicket was very good for batting and I took the opportunity to capitalise," said Ottey, who recorded the first century of the six-team round-robin championship after resuming on 66 yesterday.

"It feels good to get a century and to know that it was able to put the team in a strong position," he added.

Jamaica, in the meantime, despite a good batting track, have, only themselves to blame, as backed by a series of dropped catches and inconsistent bowling, and unimaginative captaincy from first-timer Paul Palmer Jr, they literally allowed Trinidad to control proceedings.

Despite this, however, Jamaica's coach, André Coley, remains quite optimistic.

"One has to give credit to the Trinidad batsmen. They got a good batting track and applied themselves well.

"But having said that, I am not too perturbed. The batsmen at the wicket and those in the pavilion are good enough to bring us close to the target, and I am confident they will," he added.

injury

The batsmen a, who are at the crease are St Jago's Garth Garvey and Holmwood Technical's Jermaine Blackwood, while in the pavilion is captain Paul Palmer Jr.

Garvey is 35 not out and Blackwood 11 not out, while Palmer Jr retired hurt when he reached 31.

Dismissed so far for Jamaica are Manchester High's Brian Clarke (27) and Courtnay Allen (11), Tacky High's John Campbell (0), and Excelsior High's Ramon Senior (17).

Earlier when Trinidad batted, Moneague College left-arm spinner Patrick Harty, claimed 3-102 to end as Jamaica's most successful bowler, with Eltham High pacer Romeo Dunka getting 2-61.

At Up Park Camp: Guyana claimed first-innings points over the Leeward Islands and at the end of the day were in a good position to score an outright win. Scores: Leewards 189 (46.5 overs) (Jamal Hamilton 55, Kejel Tyson (c) 33; Seon Daniels 3-28) & 247 (74 overs) (Kejel Tyson 61, Yanicak Lenord 52; Jonathan Foo 4-59). Guyana 195 (46.4 overs) (Trevon Griffith 104, Jeetendra Sookdeo 50; Quintin Boatswain 4-31, Nelson Bolan 4-40) & 40-1(7 overs) (Trevon Griffith 29; Nelson Boreland 1-2.

At Chedwin Park: Champions Barbados claimed first innings over the Windward Islands and were in a commanding position to score an outright win. Scores: Barbados 218 (88.5 Overs) (Dario Cummins 81, Anthony Alleyne 62; Dalton Polius 5-78) & 136-7 (47 overs) (Raymon Refier 29; Dalton Polius 7-53). Windwards 157 (71.3 overs) (Anbris 29, Gavin Hodge 23; Mario Miller 5-52, Jason Holder (2-21).

The championship will be played over five rounds in a round-robin format.