Barbados Pride managed to reach 243-7 at the tea interval in response to Guyana Jaguars 311 on the third day of their day/night match in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Digicel Regional four-day competition at the National Stadium, Providence on Sunday.
Test players Shai Hope (70), Roston Chase (57) and Shane Dowrich (44) managed to get starts but the Jaguars took wickets at regular intervals to strengthen their position in the top-of the table clash.
Fast bowler Keon Joseph (2-54), left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (2-55) and Veerasammy Permaul (2-66) have been the most successful bowlers thus for the home team.
Shai Hope goes into the sweep shot under the lights at ProvidenceShane Dowrich drives confidently down the groundVeerasammy Permaul bowls to Kevin Stoute after removing the set batsmen Shai Hope and Roston Chase
Contrasted to day two where the last two sessions were washed out, play got underway in sweltering heat, with Pride 48-2, still 263 adrift from Jaguars 311 and overnight batsmen Hope and Shamarh Brooks at the crease.
Brooks, a former West Indies under-19 captain resuming on 10 began looking more assured as he batted with great confidence along with Hope, with Books bringing up the team’s hundred in the 31st over with an exquisite cover-drive off the medium pace of Christopher Barnwell.
However, next over Brooks edged Motie behind to keeper Anthony Bramble, falling for 41(7x4s) and ending the 83-run partnership for the third wicket with Pride now 100-3.
In came Chase who took had streaky patch during his early minutes at the crease, edging Joseph past gully to get off the mark with a boundary. The right-hander then drove the same bowler through cover but flirted with danger again when edged another ball past third slip.
At the other end, the compact Hope eased to his 7th seventh First-class half-century with another wonderful drive off Motie; his landmark took him 126 balls and included 8 fours and one six.
Chase who made his Test debut earlier this year, slowly began to look more secure in the middle as he steered Permaul to third for a single to reach his 14th First-class half-century and the Test duo were looking dangerous at the crease.
Luckily for the home side, Permaul bowled a looping delivery which unbalanced Chase and we was stumped by Bramble on the stroke of dinner for a well-played 57 inclusive of seven fours and two maximums in the 91-minute stay at the crease.
The wicket brought the end of an entertaining 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket and Pride reached the interval at 177-4 with Hope on 58 not out.
The incoming Dowrich, wasted to no time in getting acquainted with conditions as he punched Joseph through mid-off for four then next over lifted Permaul back over his head for another boundary.
The vital breakthrough came for Jaguars when Hope attempted a sweep shot and top-edged Permaul to Leon Johnson at first slip.
Hope’s attractive innings ended on 70 after spending 288 minutes at the crease and hitting 10 fours and one six.
The old saying which goes “one wicket brings two” certainly worked for the defending champions as the new batsman Jonathon Carter (00) played-on a Motie delivery to be bowled and Pride slipped to 221-6.
Despite the loss of two quick wickets, the wicketkeeper/batsman continued to bat positively playing some fine cuts and thumping drives as he moved unto 39, hitting six fours while new batsman Kevin Stoute first boundary came when he graciously lifted Permaul over mid-wicket for six.
Yet again the final before the interval brought a wicket, as Jaguars took the new ball and the Dowrich was rushed playing a pull shot off Joseph, hitting the ball straight to Shimron Hetmyer at square leg for well-played 44 (7x4s).
Tea was taken with the Bajans on 243-7, still 68 runs away from securing first innings points.
The final day’s play will begin today at 14:30 hrs
