By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad
On the day when Guyana celebrated its 56th Independence Anniversary, Tagenarine Chanderpaul displayed solidity, consistency and discipline to end the second day unbeaten on 96, and bat Guyana Harpy Eagles to 213-1 in response to Jamaica’s 393 all out.
In this fourth-round clash of the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-Day Championships, being played at Diego Martin in Trinidad, centuries from Jermaine Blackwood and Aldane Thomas propelled Jamaica to a good first innings’ score.
In addition to Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s 96, Chanderpaul Hemraj scored 78, while Tevin Imlach was unbeaten at stumps with a solid 38.
Earlier, Jamaica Scorpions resumed the second day on 282-6, with Jermaine Blackwood on 110 and Aldane Thomas on 35. The West Indies Test vice-captain Blackwood added four runs to his overnight score before being dismissed by the 24-year-old Keemo Paul, who drew him into a false drive, wherein he was caught at mid-off for 114 from 261 balls. His solid knock included 15 fours and one six. The wicket of Blackwood, was Paul’s 100th first-class wicket, and it was taken in his 25th match.
After Blackwood departed with the score on 291-7 in 92.5 overs, ending the 55-run stand with Thomas, Guyana Harpy Eagles lacked the killer instinct, despite the surface offering little assistance for bowlers. The seamers Demetri Cameron and Paul used the short-ball, but Thomas and the well-build Jamie Merchant added 76 runs to the Jamaica score.
Merchant and Thomas pulled and hooked the Guyanese bowlers to all parts of the Diego Martin ground, which presented a lightning-quick outfield. Merchant succumbed to a short-ball from Cameron, when he was brilliantly caught down the leg-side by Tevin Imlach at 367-8.
Runs continued to flow from the bat of Thomas, who danced down the track to Veerasammy Permaul, slammed Paul over his head for a maximum, and took advantage of Cameron.
Having dabbed one into the off-side off Cameron, Thomas celebrated his maiden first-class century in grand style.
This aggressive wicketkeeper- batsman’s knock was ended after he had struck 16 fours and two sixes by his being stumped by Imlach off Permaul at 370-9, and after 105 overs.
However, a 23-run last-pair stand further frustrated the Guyanese. Permaul ended with 3-96 in 36.3 overs, with 10 maidens. Fellow left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie had 2-39 after 21 overs, with 10 maidens, while Sinclair and Cameron were expensive, with two wickets each.
13th half-century into his second first-class century
After Jamaica had posted 393, Guyana openers Chandrapaul Hemraj and Tagenarine Chanderpaul negotiated the 20 minutes before lunch, and headed into the interval at 9-0. Hemraj took full advantage of the batting-friendly conditions on an overcast afternoon. He started to display his E4 blade by taking Jamaican bowlers to the cleaners.
Right-arm speedster Derval Green used the short-ball ploy against the young Tiger Chanderpaul. He struck the left-hander on the stomach, but, the very next ball, was pulled disdainfully to the square leg boundary.
The Jamaican fielders were shouting for Green to continue to pepper the young Tiger, but he stood tall and continued to pull Green.
Meanwhile, Hemraj was punching and driving with ease and grace. He clipped one off the hip against Nicholson Gordon, arguably the shot of the day, as the partnership continued to flourish. Looking set for his second first-class century, Hemraj played a loose shot off right-arm seamer Gordon in slashing a ball which he could have left, and gifted his wicket away for an entertaining 78 made from 87 balls.
It which was his 13th first-class century, but his shot-filled innings, decorated with 15 fours and one six, ended after a 112-run opening stand.
It was only a few minutes before tea when Hemraj departed, but Tevin Imlach and Chanderpaul ensured no further hiccups, as Harpy Eagles reached 116-1 at tea.
In the final session, the young Tiger reached his half-century from 130 balls, and
he and Imlach enjoyed the flat track and ended the day unbeaten. Despite a close call while Chanderpaul was on 74 facing up to Green, the duo looked unbothered.
Chanderpaul, who was unbeaten in the last game after scoring 140 and 23, is yet to be dismissed since the restart of the tournament. He struck 16 fours and faced 228 balls. Imlach was standing tall with 38, an innings that included four fours and one six.
