CRICKET TOUR MATCH:PAUL STERLING and Niall O'Brien notched up half-centuries yesterday to leave Ireland in a solid position in the first innings of their three-day clash with Jamaica at Chedwin Park.

Opener Sterling hit 65 off 112 balls, and O’Brien struck 62 off 109 as the tourists responded to the home side’s 339.

Although captain William Porterfield had fallen for just one run after facing six balls, O’Brien joined Sterling at the crease to build a strong partnership.

West Indies middle-order batsman David Bernard had produced a workman-like knock of 102 off 165 balls for Jamaica to leave the hosts in a competitive position on Saturday.

Bernard blasted 10 fours and a six in his knock that lasted 202 minutes, while getting support from Tamar Lambert (68) and Danza Hyatt (55) against Peter Connell, who bagged 4 for 77 off his 11.5 overs for the Irish team.

The elegant batsman, who was dropped on 34 off spinner Stirling, got to his century after just over two hours of batting by scampering a single after playing the ball onto the popping crease.

Earlier, captain Lambert secured his half-century with a measured shot over long off after a patient build-up.

Ireland were made to work hard in the field, on a pitch that seemed to provide little motivation for the bowling team.

The visitors did, however, experience early success with Brenton Parchment being the first to go for the Jamaicans, after he was caught by Trent Johnston on 31 off the bowling of Kevin O’Brien with the score on 56.

Donovan Pagon (21) and Hyatt pushed to score to 104 before the former fell to the bowling of Andre Botha, Johnston again providing the safe hands for the catch.

Connell was the pick of the Irish bowlers.

At Chedwin Park

JAMAICA – First Innings

B Parchment c Johnston b O’Brien 31

D Hyatt c Connell b Kidd 55

D Pagon c Johnston b Botha 21

H Miller b Connell 4

T Lambert bowled Stirling 68

D Bernard c Kidd b P Connell 102

C Baugh c Johnston b Stirling 16

A Russell c K O’Brien b Johnston 26

A Richardson c Kidd b P Connell 2

B Brown not out 8

A Dewar c Wilson b P Connell 0

Extras (lb 4, nb 2)12

Total (all out, 87.5 overs) 339

Bowling: P Connell 11.5-2-77-4; T Johnston 13-2-42-1; K O’Brien 10-4-29-1; A Cusack 8-2-16-0; G Kidd 13-1-44-1; A Botha 4-1-14-1; P Stirling 12-3-45-2; A White 16-1-68-0.

IRELAND – First innings

W Porterfield c Dewar b A Russell 1

P Stirling run out 65

N O’Brien c Miller b A Dewar 62

A Botha c Miller b A Dewar 15

A Cusack not out 27

K O’Brien run out 22

A White not out8

Extras (lb 1, nb 4) 5

Total 4 wkts, 49.4 overs 208