– Reifer scores another responsible half century
“Captain Marve”, Leon Johnson, was at his very best scoring a sensational century in the must win encounter to lead the Jaguars into the finals of the Regional Super 50, with a one wicket win over the Jamaica Scorpions.
In the first semi-final between the Jaguars and the Scorpions, Jamaica Scorpions won the toss, opting to bat first at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
Clinton Pestano bowled the new ball with variation and control as he removed the out of form Chadwick Walton in his second over, with the score on 10. Fellow Jamaican opener John Campbell dominated the brief second wicket partnership with Blackwood who failed to make significant contributions with the bat, falling to Romario Shepherd for 5 in the tenth over. Campbell continued his positive stroke play until left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was introduced, who captured the Jamaican opener in the 18th over for a well-made 56 from 59 balls.
The Guyana Jaguars bowlers continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals, with Andre McCarthy and Brandon King falling in the 28th and 31st overs, respectively. However, number six batsman Nkrumah Bonner came to the rescue with a brilliant unbeaten 76 from 64 balls, with the capable Deveral Green contributing 32 runs. Bonner and Green added 69 runs together until Green was removed in the 43rd over by the spectacular Pestano. Jerome Taylor played a blitz smacking 5 fours in his 28 from 14 balls, taking the Scorpions to a respectable 272-8 in their 50 overs. Leading the bowling was Pestano who grabbed 3-56 in his 10 overs, with Shepherd and Permaul taking two wickets each.
In pursuit of the Scorpions’ total, the Jaguars lost a wicket in Trevon Griffith in the first over to Gordon Bryan. Sherfane Rutherford played his aggressive game but was removed by Taylor in the 6th over. Meanwhile, it was Johnson who took the responsibility to hold the innings together. Having lost Christopher Barnwell for only 15 runs alongside his name, Johnson and Reifer were the Jaguars’ mainstay as the pair added 130 runs together. Johnson showed his class stepping up to the big occasion scoring a century in the semis. The elegant left-hander stroked 11 fours in his sensational innings. Johnson was removed soon after his hundred by his counterpart Nikita Miller in the 40th over for a masterful 101 from 136 balls. Taylor showed his experience in the death overs as wickets tumbled in the 43rd, 45th and 46th overs, as the Scorpions fought back brilliantly with the Jaguars requiring 30 from 25 balls at that point. It was unfortunate for Raymond Reifer who was run out for a composed 68 from 81 deliveries with two boundaries and one 6.
The game went to the wire with nine runs needed off the final over as Bryan got rid of Pestano, leaving the Jaguars with little hope with only one wicket remaining.
Ironically, it was Jamaican born Ralmaal Lewis who hit Bryan for six off the first delivery he faced, to bring Jaguars back into the game. The seesaw final over continued with Lewis scampering for a single. Permaul, batting on 18, hit a boundary off the penultimate delivery as the Jaguars won the match with one ball to spare. Once more, Taylor was the pick of the bowlers with 3-44 in 10 overs, with Miller and Bryan picking up two wickets each.
The Guyana Jaguars are into the regional Super 50 finals, where they will play the victor of the other semi between the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the CCC Marooners. (Brandon Corlette)
