Simon Katich narrowly missed out on a first class hundred as he got out on 97 on day two of the three day match against a Jamaica XI.

After dismissing Jamaica XI for 297 on Friday, Australia amassed 396 in reply on day two, with Katich's 97 and half centuries by Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin being the highlights of the innings.

Jamaica XI, batting a second time, was 0-11.

Katich looked a sure bet to get to three figures, but a magnificent catch by a diving Xavier Marshall saw him heading back to the pavilion just three runs shy of  100.  His knock however, virtually confirmed his place in Australia's batting line-up for this week's first Test at Sabina Park.

The dismissal didn't make Australia lose a step though, as they continued scoring runs fom the bats of Symonds (86) and Haddin (60).  The pair piled on 146 runs in quick time for the sixth wicket.  Symonds, and to a lesser extent Haddin, stroked the ball to all parts of the field. Symonds counted two sixes and eight fours in his 104-ball, 150-minute knock, while the 30-year-old Haddin stroked nine fours off 92 balls.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, whose form has been questioned in recent months after an inconsistent summer against India, looked in good touch before being brilliantly caught and bowled by off-spinner Nikita Miller for 17. 

So with a day to go, the Jamaicans trail by 88 with all their wickets in hand. Parchment and Jacksonwill seek to add to their overnight scores but they can expect Australia to intensify their attack as they aim for a win before the test series begins.

Jamaica XI
1st innings 297

Australia
1st innings

JAQUES lbw b McNally 48
S KATICH c Marshall b Ingram 97
R PONTING c and b Miller 17
M HUSSEY c Ingram b Wallace 19
B HODGE b Miller 16
A SYMONDS b Russell 86
B HADDIN c Miller b Sinclair 64
B LEE b Russell 1
M JOHNSON c Wallace b Sinclair 10
S CLARK not out 3
S MACGILL lbw b Sinclair 0
Sundries (18nb 9b 8lb) 35
Total 396
Fall: 95, 136, 175, 212, 228, 373, 380, 384, 393, 396.
Bowling: A Russell 19-2-85-2 (18nb), N McNally 19-4-63-1, S Findlay 5-0-27-0, N Miller 35-6-75-2, G Wallace 21-2-67-1, L Ingram 
7-0-38-1, B Parchment 1-0-10-0, D Sinclair 6.3-1-14-3.
Batting time: 405 mins. Overs: 113.3.

Jamaica XI
2nd Innings
B PARCHMENT not out 4
S JACKSON not out 1
Sundries (4b 2nb) 6
No wicket for 11
Bowling: B Lee 3-2-4-0, M Johnson 2-1-3-0 (2nb).