Shivnarine Chanderpaul struck his 72nd First-Class century to propel the Guyana Jaguars to 311 all out on the first day of their day/ night match against Barbados Pride in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket (PCL) Digicel Regional four-day competition at the National Stadium, Providence on Friday.
The former Test player once again came to the rescue of the home team after wickets fell at regular intervals, striking 13 boundaries in an even century as the iconic batsman bolstered the home side’s first innings total on a typical slow Providence pitch.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul reaches his 72nd First-Class century
Keon Joseph (02) dismissal in the 89th over ended the day’s play with Gudakesh Motie on 36 not out. Kemar Roach (3-47), Kevin Stoute (2-52) and Roston Chase (2-74) were the most successful bowlers for Pride.
Earlier, Jaguars won the toss and opted to bat in bright sunshine and got off to a positive start with Shimron Hetmyer and Test player Rajendra Chandrika dispatching any loose balls to the ropes delivered by new ball bowlers Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves . Hetmyer was the more aggressive of the duo, playing some exquisite cuts and drives to put some early pressure on the visitors.
Chandrika, who played a sumptuous cover-drive off the bowling of Kevin Stoute, surprisingly pushed tentatively in the first over of spin by Roston Chase and was bowled for 11, with the score now 49-1.
Captain Leon Johnson who has not been in the best of form to his liking, gave a hint that he meant business with a classical drive off the bowling of Chase but two balls later, he offered no shot and was dismissed leg before wicket for four, leaving the Jaguars at 61-2.
Hetmyer, was then joined by his West Indies A teammate Vishaul Singh, and both immediately looked intent on leading their team to an imposing first innings total by keeping the score ticking with sensible batting.
The 19 year-old Hetymer in particular was extremely severe on the spinners, waltzing down the track and hitting them over long-off.
The Berbician reached his third First-class half-century and second of the season with a cut behind point; his landmark took 55 balls and included six fours and three sixes.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite made a change in bowling, as medium pacer Jonathon Carter had the duties of the final over before the interval and induced Hetmyer into a pull shot which he hit down the throat of Jomel Warrican at deep square-leg.
The left-hander fell for an attractive 60, failing to convert the rapid start into a triple figure score and dinner was taken with the home side at 99-3 and Singh on 16.
After the interval, Chanderpaul joined Singh in the middle but it was not smooth sailing for either of the two batsmen as Roach had a pacey spell from the Pavilion End where he got some amount of away movement under lights.
The two left-handers weathered the storm, only playing deliveries pitched on the stumps but with the introduction of left-arm spinner Warrican the rate of scoring improved.
The pair moved the total to 138, where Singh was dismissed leg before wicket when Stoute, who was getting some shape on the ball, got a delivery to seam into the pads; Singh spent 93 minutes at the crease in a workman-like innings where hit six fours.All-rounder Christopher Barnwell (04) was next to arrive at the crease, immediately found it difficult with Stoute moving the ball both ways. Barnwell got off the mark with a cheeky edge through third slip but the next delivery, the batsmen played across the line and was adjudged leg before wicket.
Raymon Reifer, would have had his heart in mouth when he edged his first delivery which fortunately fell just in front of second slip.
Reifer and Chanderpaul survived the tough period and settle the nerves of the Jaguars’ camp with sensible batting which the veteran batsman reaching his 136th First-class century with an iconic steer to third-man.
The former Test player caressed eight balls to the boundary as Guyana reached 194-5 at tea with Reifer on 11.
The final session began with the Barbadian-born drilling the off-spin of Chase down the ground then playing a lofted straight drive for another boundary as the team passed the 200-mark and brought up the 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
The resolute pair began growing in confidence as scoring became easier with Refier in particular playing some powerful drives but the resistance came to an end when the Bajan top-edged a short ball from Carter to mid-wicket.
The dismal brought the end of a gusty 85-run partnership and the left-hander stroking 35 and hitting seven fours in his 106 minute stay at the crease.
Three wickets then fell for just one run as Roach who returned to the attack broke the edges of Anthony Bramble (01) and Veerasammy Permaul (00) as Jaguars slipped to 234-8.
Young Motie, who is more known for his left-arm spin gave “Tiger” ample support with some compact batting as pair helped their team surpass the 250-run mark.
Motie who had to endure a procession of shorts from Roach, soon began freeing his arms when the slow bowlers came into the attack by hitting Warrican for six over deep mid-wicket which brought up the 50-run partnership and the Jaguars were slowly beginning to regain control of the day’s play.
While the men from the Island were frustrated over Motie’s stellar display, at the other end, the former Test player was nearing yet another triple figure score.
Chanderpaul reached his 18th century at regional level with a scampering single to short mid-wicket but when he regain strike he had his stumps uprooted by Roach.
Motie continued to play his shots hitting five fours and one six in his mature innings but Warrican brought the innings to a close when he trapped Joseph leg before.
The second day’s play begins today at 15:00 hrs with the visitors taking strike at middle.
