Jaguars 4 wickets away from crushing win

– Paul, Permaul & Motie take 4 each]

By John Ramsingh in Tarouba

Guyana Jaguars picked up 16 wickets on day three to move within touching distance of an outright win against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their Cricket West Indies fourth round Regional four-day match on Saturday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy at Tarouba in Southern Trinidad.

After being asked to bat a second time, the Red Force labored to 106 for 6 at stumps still 258 runs away from making the champions bat again with four wickets in hand. However, it could have been worse had it not been for a brave unbeaten seventh wicket partnership of 44 between Imran Khan and Daniel St. Clair that took the game into a fourth day. At one stage they were tottering at 62 for 6 in the final session before the all-rounders joined forces to counter the Jaguars attack.
With 535 runs being score for just eight wickets on the first two days, another laborious day for the bowlers were predicted but the Jaguars bowlers had other plans with seamer Keemo Paul and left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie picking up four wickets each.
The trouble started in the sixth over of the day when the Red Force openers were separated after putting on the best partnership of the first innings. Amir Jangoo who hit three fours and a six was first to go. He tried to play too many loose shots but cut straight to Paul at backward point to induce the collapse. Two overs later, Joseph sent back Yannic Cariah before Permaul and Motie went to work.
By the end of the opening session, the hosts had lost five wickets after scoring just 55 runs from 31 overs but with captain Denesh Ramdin on three and Roshon Primus on 29, there were hopes of a revival.
That was not to be after Ramdin who already has two centuries this season, drove the fourth ball after the break straight to short extra-cover then hobbled back to the pavilion for just three. However, after his dismissal, the tail which was cleaned up cheaply and the Red Force had lost 10 wickets for 54 runs to be dismissed 45 minutes into the second session.
With a lead of 364 runs, Leon Johnson and the Jaguars immediately enforced the follow-on leaving the home team with the daunting task of batting out a day and just over a session to save the match on a crumbling wicket.
Red Force began with their regular openers while the Jaguars recognizing that the wicket is playing low and offering some turn, began with Joseph and Permaul. In the fourth over, Hope tried to lift Permaul inside out but only got as far as mid-on and the flood gates were opened again.
Left-handed stroke player, Jangoo who hit two fours and a six then offered a simple catch to Rutherford at backward point off the leading edge from the second ball from Paul in the innings. Yannic Cariah then became wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble’s fifth victim of the day when he feathered one behind.
At the end of the session, Jason Mohammed was on four and Tion Webster on one with the Red Force on 48-3 still behind by 316 runs and steering down the barrel. Paul then plucked out Webster and Primus in two balls but was denied the hat trick by Imran Khan’s straight bat. Mohammed too didn’t stick around too long after to leave the lower order to bat for survival to which Khan and St. Clair showed they are capable of. Their partnership has spanned 26 over already but how longer will they be able to keep the hunting Jaguars out is the big question.
With only the injured Ramdin, Charles and Cottrell still to bat, meanwhile in the other matches, the Jamaica Scorpions set the Leeward Islands Hurricanes a target of 302 to win on the final day at Warner Park in St. Kitts. Scores; Scorpions 342 and 191; Hurricanes 232.
Over at the Arnos Vale Play Field, Barbados Pride are 148 for 9 batting a second time leading the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 286 runs with one wicket in hand. Scores; Pride 360 & 148-9; Volcanoes 222.