Record-breaking Jaguars 2 wickets away from flawless season

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championship 2017-18…

By: John Ramsingh

Four-time winners of the prestigious Headley/Weekes Trophy, Guyana Jaguars are two wickets away from finishing the Digicel Regional Four-Day tournament unbeaten after leaving Trinidad and Tobago Red Force steering down the barrel at stumps on day three at Providence.

The visitors batting a second time are 282 for 8, still 123 runs away from making the champs bat again and with two wickets in hand it is unlikely they will make the Jaguars bat again.
In the day’s final over on an extended third day Saturday, Daniel St. Clair was out leg before wicket to the season’s most successful bowler, Veerasammy Permaul leaving Jason Mohammed unbeaten on 92 (14×4).
Permaul and Red Force leg-spinner, Imran Khan began the final round with 46 wickets each but the Guyanese left-arm spinner has three wickets so far in the match taking him to 49 while Khan only added two more from the Jaguars first innings. Since Khan may not have an opportunity to bowl again in this the tenth and final round, Permaul will finish as the season’s leading wicket taker.
Despite a spirited batting display from the Red Force in their second innings, a likely defeat is on the cards. After rolling over for 135 in their first knock, the Red Force made amends with Tion Webster and captain Denesh Ramdin supporting Mohammed with more than useful knocks.
The 22-year-old Webster, set the national stadium alight just after lunch with a breezy innings of 77 from 54 balls with 11 fours and four sixes. After he was bowled first ball in the first inning, he tore into the attack and was especially severe on medium pacer, Keemo Paul. In one over Webster muscled 24 runs (2×6; 3×4) which made Paul furious and responded with the short ball and eventually got his revenge.
In all, Webster and Mohammed who was a spectator put on 84 for the third wicket after openers Amir Jangoo and Jeremy Solozano were cleaned up by the left-arm spinners Permaul and Gudakesh Motie.

Skipper Ramdin was on course for a second consecutive half century but was spectacularly caught and bowled by Sherfane Rutherford looking for his eighth four from his 121st delivery. When the Jaguars saw the back of Ramdin, there was wild celebrations since they knew he was the glue that was holding the innings together and denying the inevitable.
Ramdin added 117 for the fourth wicket with Mohammed and his dismissal triggered a collapse that saw the Red Force losing three wickets for two runs when Yannic Cariah and Steven Katwaroo were sent back without scoring and the Jaguars were sensing an early victory. It was the second duck in the match for Katwaroo.
However, Khan hung around with Mohammed to frustrate the champions momentarily before he became Paul’s second victim when he was clean bowled breaking the stump in the process.
As it approached stumps and with just three wickets in hand, the Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson requested and was granted an additional 30 minutes to push for the early victory and was again held up. St. Clair blocked wonderfully well for most of his 30 deliveries but the Jaguars were determined and their persistence eventually won.
Earlier, Raymon Reifer and Paul converted their overnight scores to milestones. Paul who was first to his half century was also the first to be dismissed to a patient Khan leaving Refier in the 90’s with Permaul and Motie to bat.
Permaul however, supported him well to reach his maiden First Class century when he drove Cariah to long on for a single. After Permaul was dismissed Motie and Reifer continued until the Jaguars passed 571 which was the record for Guyana’s highest score against Trinidad and Tobago in Regional First Class cricket since 1971.
When Johnson called his batsmen off, Reifer was on 108 with 10 fours from 217 balls and the lead a staggering 405.
Needing a herculean effort to remain in the game, the Red Force openers began much better than in the first innings and saw off the eight overs to lunch and it was in the second session that the bacchanal started.
Jangoo was taken at slip off the second ball after the break and paved way for the Tion Webster show. The session eventually yielded 175 runs from 31 overs and three wickets, possibly another record which was not enough to deny the champs in their own back yard.
Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) director of cricket, Jimmy Adams was at Providence on Saturday and will no doubt be back today to hand over the Headley/Weekes Trophy to the Jaguars who will remain unbeaten this season.
Meanwhile, Jaguars head coach Esuan Crandon is urging cricket fans to join them at Providence in celebration when the trophy is presented. Speaking during radio commentary where he was a special guest, Crandon said the team will appreciated if the fans come out.
The action continues from 09:30h and admission is free.