The England cricket team struggled to an uninspiring 179 for five on the first day of their opening tour game against Jamaica, before rain stopped play.

Fielding their probable test team, England lost Alec Stewart with just two on the board and despite good performances by the captain, Michael Atherton, John Crawley and Graeme Thorpe, the visitors were unable to get on top of the bowling.

Atherton reached 28 before being caught

Thorpe and Adam Hollioake put on 61 for the fifth wicket before Hollioake, who hit a six from the off-spinner Gareth Breese, was dismissed for 40.

Thorpe, who batted for 170 minutes, was 41 not out at the close which was taken 45 minutes early because of bad weather.

The wicket-keeper Jack Russell, who has been out of the test side for 12 matches, was unbeaten on 14.

The pitch, at Jarrett Park soccer ground, caused the ball to fly both high and low and a rough outfield meant that only six fours were hit through the long grass all day.

Alec Stewart was caught on two

The England coach, David Lloyd, said: "It was always going to be difficult, but we have no complaints."

England chose to bat on an under-prepared pitch but quickly regretted it when Stewart edged a ball from O'Neil Richards and Breese took the catch at second slip.

Atherton and Crawley concentrated on defence until lunch when only 53 had been scored at less than two an over.

Immediately after the interval, Atherton was caught at square-leg off the paceman Kirk Powell for 28.

With the score on 73, Crawley was run out for 25 in a mix-up with Nasser Hussain who then hit a simple catch to midwicket to depart for 15.

Powell finished the day with two for 19 off 14 overs.

Scoreboard

• M Atherton c Murphy b Powell 28
• A Stewart c Breese b Richards 1
• J Crawley run out 25
• N Hussain c Adams b Breese 15
• G Thorpe not out 41
• A Hollioake c Coley b Powell 40
• J Russell not out 14

  Extras (b15) 15

  Total (for 5 wickets) 179

  Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-55 3-7 4-78 5-139.
  To bat: Dean Hedley, Andrew Caddick, Angus Fraser, Phil Tufnell.
  Bowling: Powell 14-3-19-1, Richards 12-7-15-1, Williams 21-7-37-0, Breese 24-3-59-1, Murphy 11-0-30-1, Adams 1-0-4-0.

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