Defending Digicel Regional Four Day Champions, Guyana Jaguars were brought down to earth after they were rocked back by a devastating spell of off spin bowling coupled with bad shot selection on Friday at Providence.
After amassing an unassailable 131.4 points from nine matches to retain the Headley/Weeks Trophy the hosts were bowled out cheaply by the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on day one of their final match in the tournament.
Hurricanes skipper bowled impressively for his 11th five wicket haul in First Class cricket
Opting to bat, the Jaguars began with last round centurion and debutant Bhaskar Yadram and were off to a cautious start on a typical Providence in sunny weather. After 10 overs of medium pace from Gavin Tonge and Jeremiah Louis, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes skipper, Rakheem Cornwall brought himself in the attack from the Players Pavilion End and bowled unchanged all day.
In a sudden change of events, the typically patient Fudadin tried to launch Cornwall’s first ball over and extra cover and held out to Keacy Carty who took a splendid running catch to begin the slide.
Chandrapaul Hemraj then joined his Everest Cricket Club team mate but after bringing up the Jaguars’ 50 in the 16th over he was snapped up by Jacques Taylor to give Louis his first wicket. After hitting five fours from 51 balls, the 17 year old Yadram was smartly taken at leg slip as the home team lose two wickets at 51.
Lunch was taken with the Jaguars on 88-3 with out of form captain, Leon Johnson on an attractive 28 and Raymon Reifer on 6. After the interval, the procession continued from the dressing room to the middle for the Jaguars batsmen and at tea they were 164/7 with Keemo Paul on 30 and Veerasammy Permaul on 8.
The entire top and middle orders were back in the hut as Cornwall grabbed another five-wicket haul as 76 runs were scored in the middle session for the wickets of Johnson, Reifer, Bramble and Jacobs all cheaply and to poor shots.
Paul made a fighting 30 with three fours and two sixes but after he was dismissed the innings soon ended at about 15:33h with the other debutant, Anthony Adams ending on four with Cornwall finishing with six.
The visitors opening pair then put their heads down to graft for the remaining 25 overs to finish on 62 without loss to end a good day at the office for the bottom of the table Hurricanes.
Montcin Hodge who made a century when the Hurricanes handed the Jaguars their only defeat of the season in the record chase of 369 in St. Kitts last November in round two was not out on 32 and with him was English county player, Chesney Hughes on 29.
The Hurricanes are trailing by 125 and are batting themselves into a strong position after their bowlers did the hard work and thoughts of an upset must be on the minds of the visitors.
The Jaguars left out Rajendra Chandrika, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Samaroo while Reifer, Clinton Pestano and the debutants found themselves in the final XI in the final match of a long season.
