Australia started slowly but bounced back in their opening West Indies tour match against a Jamaica XI as Stuart MacGill claimed four wickets to put the tourists in charge.

Jamaica were 5-135 at lunch on the first day and, following an unbeaten 111 by Carlton Baugh Jr., went on to score a creditable 297 at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

Jamaica's top three batsmen all started well but failed to go on with the job.

West Indies Test hopeful Brenton Parchment made 25 in a 51-run opening stand with fellow opener Simon Jackson, who was eventually dismissed for 29.  Former Test batsman Xavier Marshall added 30.

Australia were 0-89 in reply before bad light stopped play on day one of the three-day match, with Phil Jaques on 44 and Simon Katich 35 not out.

Baugh, who has played five Tests for West Indies, struck nine fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball century.

He shared in an 89-run ninth-wicket stand with Gavin Wallace (22) which frustrated Australia's bowling attack for more than two hours. Wallace eventually fell as MacGill picked up his fourth wicket.  MacGill ended with figures of 4-79.

Australian wicket keeper, Brad Haddin, had a good day accounting for five dismissals including two stumpings while skipper, Ricky Ponting, took three catches at slip.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson (2-64) and part-time spinner Simon Katich (2-51) were the other multiple wicket-takers for the bowlers, with Katich given a lengthy 13-over spell with the ball.