A very poor batting display from the Guyana Jaguars coupled with excellent spin bowling from Barbados Pride had set up the final day for an exciting finish before the rain had the final say at Providence in the fourth round clash of the Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament 2016-17.
Set 161 to win from 70 overs in well over two sessions available, the Pride were in serious trouble at 25/3 after three overs and two balls when a sharp shower just after the supper break sent the players in the pavilion with 136 runs still required. However, the Jaguars bowlers were on a high with the pink ball in overcast conditions in the twilight of the final day by picking up three wickets to give themselves a chance at a come from behind victory.
The first Pride batsman to go was the season’s leading batsman, Anthony Alleyne who was given out LBW to Keon Joseph in the first over before Raymon Reifer got first innings top scorer, Shai Hope to edge behind at 6/2 at supper. At the interval both teams were entertaining thoughts of a close win and when Reifer had Brathwaite edging behind just after the break the Jaguars were sniffing maximum points.
However, heavy and persistent rain kept the ground staff busy but a decision was made to take an early tea at 19:00h and to possibly resume play just after 20:00h. That seemed a smart decision but when a resumption was on the horizon so was another shower. A heavier down pour came for the last time and the officials were forced to call off the game as a draw at approximately 20:43h.
The dramatic finish was only possible after poor shot selections from the Jaguars resulted in them being bowled out for 137 in 35.2 overs. The Pride spinners, Warrican and Chase were virtually unplayable while Jonathan Carter showed the rest of the slip fielders from both sides how to take catches as he pouched five.
After watching a dual between opener Shimron Hetmyer and Pride fast bowler Kemar Roach, night watchman Gudakesh Motie was first to go caught at the wicket off Greaves. Hetmyer played some aggressive shots off Roach and was even hit on the helmet but his innings proved to be crucial. He made 67 from just 83 balls with nine fours and a six before he became Warrican’s first victim.
After Hetmyer’s dismissal the runs dried up and the wickets tumbled at regular intervals. With no other batsman passing 12 after Warrican’s arm ball made an appearance alongside Chase’s bounce and turn.
Both teams will look to their last fixture before the Christmas break to get some valuable points as this is now their second consecutive drawn game due to rain.
The Jaguars will host the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Providence while the Pride will travel to Dominica to take on the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Jaguars 1st Innings 311
Pride 1st Innings 288
Jaguars 2nd Innings (overnight 32/2)
R Chandrika LBW b Roach 0
S Hetmyer c Carter b Warrican 67
L Johnson c Brooks b Chase 13
G Motie c Dowrich b Greaves 10
V Singh c Carter b Chase 12
S Chanderpaul c Carter b Warrican 0
C Barnwell c Carter b Chase 1
R Reifer c Carter b Warrican 7
A Bramble LBW b Chase 8
V Permaul Not Out 5
K Joseph b Warrican 0
