Bramble to the rescue

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

…Jaguars clawed back to 276-8

By John Ramsingh

Twenty seven-year old Guyana Jaguars wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble walked to the crease in bright afternoon sunshine at 41 for 4 and at the end of the opening day he was unbeaten on 116, his maiden century and his team has recovered nicely to 276 for 8.

At the start of his innings, the Berbician, in his 45th First Class match joined Shivnarine Chanderpaul and they weathered the ‘hurricane’ to go to the first interval at 55 for 4 with Bramble on 8 and Shiv on 5 and advantage to the visitors.
After the interval, the pair continued with resolute batting for the entire second session which ended at 151 for 4. The partnership at that time grew to 110 runs with the right-handed Bramble battling away on 62, his ninth half century and the former West Indies captain on 44. In all, 96 runs were scored in the session and the Jaguars were back in the contest but just marginally.

At the start of the final session, Shiv brought up his half century but was then undone by a good delivery from the busy Devon Thomas that ended the partnership on 118. Keemo Paul then drove straight to Thomas at short cover when Chesney Hughes tossed up from the Media Centre End.
Bramble then found another useful partner in Sherfane Rutherford to add 63 for the seventh wicket which took the home team past the 200-run mark before another double strike from the Hurricanes. Rutherford was first to go after hitting two fours and a six before Romario Shepherd was bowled by Gavin Tonge with the second new ball. Shepherd replaced Keon Joseph who is injured.
The defending champions won the toss and once again they failed to get a good start again with Tagenarine Chanderpaul edging his 35th delivery straight to wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton to begin the top order collapse. Leon Johnson was then hit in front from his opposite number, Rahkeem Cornwall who was in the middle of a good spell.
Vishaul Singh was next to go when he steered Mervin Mathew to third slip before Chandrapaul Hemraj edged to slip after hitting four fours in an attractive innings.
The Hurricanes bowling was led by Cornwall with three victims and will look to wrap up the Jaguars tail but with Bramble looking solid and Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie showing good fight with the bat an interesting day’s play is ahead of us when the action on day two in the seventh round begins at 14:00h in the day/night contest.