All-rounder Raymon Reifer and veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul were the standout performers on day two of the Guyana Jaguars 4-day warm-up match at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Raymon Reifer
Reifer and Chanderpaul who ended the day’s play on 68 and 49 respectively have so far featured in an unbroken 127-run for the fourth wicket as Vishaul Singh’s XI reached 181-3 from 69 overs in response to Christopher Barnwell’s XI first innings 325 all out.
The left-handed Reifer stroked four fours and three maximums in his innings while the experienced Chanderpaul hit five fours and one six and both batsmen will want to continue their stance in the middle since their team still trails by 144 runs.
When Vishaul Singh’s XI began their first innings, openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Rajendra Chandrika looked in control of the early attack by seamers Keon Joseph and Romario Shepherd but an unfortunate incident occurred when Chandrika was hit on the knee from a return throw and the Test batsman had to retire hurt.
Out came West Indies ‘A’ team player Shimron Hetmyer, who got off the mark with a sumptuous drive through cover for four. The pugnacious left hander soon after edged Joseph behind for wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach to take a regulation catch with team total now at 27-1.
The in-form Vishaul Singh then walked out and immediately stamped his authority. The pint size lefthander stroked two sweetly timed boundaries, signaling his intention that he was going to make a substantial score, however, the leading wicket taker of the recently concluded Jaguars Franchise League Eon Hooper sent the batsmen back in the hut when he trapped him LBW for 18.
The younger Chanderpaul who batted positively for his 27 (5x4s) fell next over and Vishaul Singh’s XI were now shakily placed at 54-3. It was here the elder Chanderpaul and Reifer ensured there were no more casualties as they took their team to 63-3 at tea.
After the interval, the duo’s partnership blossomed as they both played some extravagant shots. Reifer in particular used his feet well to the slow bowlers and took a liking to leg-spinner Steven Sankar as he dumped him for a huge six over deep midwicket.
Chanderpaul, on the other hand kept the runs flowing as he picked the gaps constantly and dispatched any loose balls to the boundary. Reifer reached his the half-century mark with a cheeky run to mid-off but from there-on he and Chanderpaul batted with total control until play came to a close.
Earlier, Barnwell XI Resuming on 273-7, with skipper Christopher Barnwell at the crease on 40 and Seon Hetmyer on 12, saw the captain only added seven to his overnight score as he edge the left-arm seam of Reifer behind to end a vital 52-run stand for the eight wicket. Hetmyer displayed some patience as he picked the gaps, running the singles on offer but perished in the same fashion as his captain for 30; Romario Shepherd (13) came and smacked three fours as his team were bowled out in l04.5 overs before the lunch interval.
Reifer lead the way with 3-42 from 19 overs while left-arm spinner Anthony Adams had figures of 3-100 from 28 overs while Sherfene Rutherford 1-35, Clinton Pestano 1-39, and Gajanan Suknanan 1-44 were also among the wickets.
The third day’s play will begin today at 9:30h.
