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The gloom that enveloped Sabina Park yesterday evening might have been in keeping with the mood of the Barbados dressing-room after a frustratingly fruitless day here yesterday.

Four wickets in six hours reflected some injustice in their performance on the second day of their third round Busta Cup match against Jamaica.

Our boys put in a magnificent effort. (But) everything has not gone our way, Barbados manager Tony Howard said after an absorbing day in which 214 runs were scored.

There were a few close decisions. There were a few things we could have done a little better, but I think it's been not a bad day's play.

When stumps were drawn under overcast skies that prevailed for most of the last hour, Jamaica, in a workman-like manner, were in the process of building a significant lead that could put the defending Cup champions on the ropes on today's penultimate day.

The lead of 97 was achieved through consistent contributions, of which the most impressive was Ricardo Powell's high-class 85 that was marked with exciting hitting and more revealingly, measured shot-selection that appeared to have deserted him for the past 18 months.

After Powell completed his first half-century at this level in two seasons, Gareth Breese and Mario Ventura consolidated in the last session with an unfinished fifth-wicket partnership of 74 that could have been broken when it was worth 14 had Courtney Browne not missed an off-side stumping off Ryan Austin.

Barbados toiled in spite of the sterling work ethic displayed by their four-man attack of Ian Bradshaw, Tino Best and the spin pair of Sulieman Benn and Austin.

Their modest total on the opening day, however, made their task even more difficult.

Cricket is an equation of time, wickets and runs. We lost too many wickets in too little time and we've given Jamaica quite a lot of time to work on us, Howard said, while conceding that Barbados were under pressure.

They have almost 100 runs on and two days left to play. But certainly I expect that if we bat much better in the second innings if we can get a lead of 200, certainly on the last day this wicket should give us a chance.

For most of the first session yesterday, Barbados made Jamaica fight for every run with Benn and Bradshaw admirably wheeling away.

The left-armers delivered all but five overs in the opening two hours that produced 58 runs and shared three wickets in a 45-minute period when Barbados applied the brakes.

Benn gained more turn and bounce than he has done at any stage this season and duly deserved the wickets of Leon Garrick and Keith Hibbert.

After the in-form Garrick completed another half-century, Benn tricked him with a flighted delivery which he shaped to hit through the on-side and ended up giving a catch to mid-off.

Hibbert was never assured in his brief stay and it was no surprise when he played slightly across the line and was lbw on the back foot.

In between those two wickets, Bradshaw removed David Bernard Jr, the opener, edging a catch to the keeper. For some reason, he seemed dissatisfied with the umpire's verdict.

The second session, highlighted by the hitting of Powell and the lively aggression of Best was especially enthralling.

Barbados failed to gain a wicket, but might have been a little unlucky not to have won an lbw shout against captain Robert Samuels. It was a similar situation after tea when Ventura survived a raucous appeal. In both cases, Benn was the bowler.

Eventually, Samuels tenaciously survived against Best in an entertaining wicketless six-over burst in which the 20-year-old sent Sabina into a frenzy.

Best bowled his heart out, running with the speed of Obadele Thompson and showing the emotion of Ato Boldon whenever he beat the bat. The Bajans on the field might have been somewhat surprised that the Jamaicans were cheering on an opposing player.

He's always bowled with venom. What I was pleased about is that he bowled with better control, Howard said.

He had his line and length going and he gave them a bit of problems. That's what we want to see from Best. He has the pace and everybody knows that pace is not going to do the job for you.

Before and after Best's afternoon spell, it was the batting of Powell that was the unquestioned highlight.

He arrived at his half-century in dramatic fashion, advancing to Austin and lifting the off-spinner over long-on and onto the roof of the four-tier Air Jamaica Stand. The roars around the ground suggested there were 15 000 spectators in the stands and not 1 500.

Powell also carried Jamaica to first innings lead 15 minutes after tea with another six, which was powerfully pulled over mid-wicket off Benn. Powell is known for such power, but he also unveiled an exquisite extra-cover drive off Austin that raced across the outfield for one of his 11 fours.

Powell had thoroughly dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 102 with Samuels, whose upset stomach made him suspend his innings at tea with his personal contribution on 22.

On resumption, Barbados appeared to be searching for answers after going almost two-and-half hours without a breakthrough.

They turned to an over of off-spin from Shirley Clarke immediately after tea and quickly reverted to Austin. His first ball pitched in the rough, wide of off stump and Powell shouldered arms, thinking there was no danger. While he was stunned that the ball spun back to bowl him, the Barbadians were jubilant.

There was nothing more to celebrate after that.

© The Barbados Nation