The Guyana Jaguars are five wickets away from a thumping victory over the Windward Islands Volcanoes in round 10 of the Cricket West Indies Professional Cricket League Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament at Providence. At stumps on day two on Sunday, the Volcanoes batting a second time were 102-5 still 182 runs behind with half their batting back in the pavilion.
At the start of the match, the two-time defending champion needed a maximum of 21 points from their remaining two matches to claim their third successive title and there is a possibility of getting over the line or very close after this match.
The champs began day two in a commanding position at 210-2 in their first innings replying to 95 all out made by the Volcanoes on day one. Assad Fudadin was on 113 and night watchman Gudakesh Motie was on 2 with a lead of 115. The visitors needed a spirited effort to get back in the game and they got it from the pace duo of Delorn Johnson and Kyle Mayers.
Mayers who operated from the Players Pavilion End got the ball to swing while the more pacey Johnson pegged away from the top end with the little breeze aiding his thunderbolts. After playing and missing for five overs, two of which were maidens from Johnson, Fudadin had a lapse in concentration and was sent back for a well compiled sixth First Class century. His dismissal triggered a collapse as Leon Johnson, Motie, Sherfane Rutherford and Anthony Bramble fell quickly after to leave the Jaguars at 248-7, losing five wickets for 38 runs in just about nine overs.
Johnson’s scratchy season continued when he played down the wrong line while debutant Rutherford got a bit carried away looking to play too much of shots on the slow track. Bramble looked to stick around with Steven Jacobs but was also sent back to leave the hosts at 274-7 at lunch with Jacobs and Keemo Paul both on 13 runs.
The Volcanoes won their first session of the match having bagged five wickets for 62 runs. Jacobs’ spell was an impressive 8-4-13-3 while Mayers had 9-1-30-2 as they both bowled unchanged in the cool morning session. At the interval the lead was 179 and an interesting second session was in the making.
Jacobs and Paul weathered the storm and put together 85 for the eighth wicket before Johnson came back with the second new ball, which was taken after 98 overs with the Jaguars on 310-7, to induce an edge from Paul for Sunil Ambris to take a regulation catch. Paul was approaching a well-deserved maiden half century in only his second match and walked off vividly disappointed to miss out but much to the delight of the hardworking Vincentian quickie who picked up his third five-wicket haul.
Delorn Johnson bowled impressively for another five-forJaguars celebrate Veerasammy Permaul’s dismissal of Jerlani Robinson late on Sunday at Providence. (Marceano Narine photo)
Jacobs then opened his shoulders and brought up his fifth First Class half century having found a capable partner in Veerasammy Permaul. The half century took the Malteenoes Sports Club player 113 balls with six fours from 127 minutes of batting.
His innings ended when Mayers disturbed his furniture in the 110th over before the Barbadian franchise player ended the innings in his next over by removing Shepherd, his fourth victim. The Jaguars were 370-9 at the 110th over mark and as such collected four batting bonus points.
The Jaguars batted 26 overs in the second session scoring 105 runs and when their innings ended at 14:25h tea was taken.
The Windwards Volcanoes’ second innings began much more positive than the first with Devon Smith gathering a polished unbeaten 60 so far. In the first innings, it was the pace of Shepherd and Paul that wrecked the Volcanoes batting but only Shepherd tasted success when Tyrone Theophile was comprehensively bowled in the 9th over of the innings. Jerlani Robinson played some convincing cover drives especially off Paul but was undone by a straighter ball from Veerasammy Permaul as wickets tumbled regularly in the afternoon twilight.
Next to go was Andre Fletcher who became Rutherford’s first victim at this level when he drove back to the right handed pacer who held on to the stiff chance before taking off in wild celebration.
Gudakesh Motie who was not required to bowl in the Volcanoes’ first innings then induced false strokes from captain Sunil Ambris and Kaveem Hodge who were both taken at mid-on trying to clear the infield.
The Jaguars will push for maximum points and the three-peat when play begins this morning with Smith and Mayers in the way initially however, with the way the match has panned out, it is only a matter of time.
