It was a day that belonged to the Guyana Jaguars, specifically the Bajan boy Raymon Reifer, who grabbed 5-20 and scored an unbeaten 33 in the Jaguars’ Regional 4-Day match against the Barbados Pride at Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence.
On a day that saw 17 wickets fall, Guyana Jaguars ended on 162-7 in 60 overs, in response to Barbados Pride’s 76 all out in 29.1 overs.
On the eve of the match, both teams expected the Providence pitch to suit spinners. It was the total opposite where the wickets were concerned on the opening day. The Providence pitch had the juice for the bowlers who were willing to work.
The 27-year-old Barbadian Raymon Reifer, an important asset to the Jaguars, destroyed his countrymen with his sixth First Class five wicket haul. Earlier, the visitors had won the toss and elected to bat.
Jaguars included in the squad 22-year-old Ramaal Lewis who played one First Class match previously for Jamaica. He made his First Class debut for Jaguars and completed the sharpest of catches in the slip cordon.
Batting first proved costly for the Pride on a wicket covered with grass. Reifer kept it simple, bowling in the right areas to ensure Pride were blown away for 76 in 29.1 overs.
Vishaul Singh on the go during his cheesy 33
Day one proceedings began with Romario Shepherd and Reifer sharing the new ball. At 15-1, Pride lost the left-handed Mosely, who was trapped in front by Reifer for two. Pride are without their frontline players, who are currently featuring in the Windies ODI team. Thus this outfit lacked experience in the batting department. The left arm seam bowler Reifer then struck in the eighth over, when he removed Rashidi Boucher (17) with the score on 21-2.
On the back of Reifer’s brilliance, the Jaguars continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals. With the score on 23, Pride lost their most experienced players in Jonathan Carter (1) and Shamarh Brooks (1). At that stage, Pride looked a long distance from reaching 50. A 26-run 10th wicket partnership saw the Pride to 76 all out when Veerasammy Permaul broke the partnership with the first ball he bowled.
Permaul ended the Pride’s misery when he removed number 11, Chaim Holder, for a breezy 22 from 18 balls. In the eventful morning session that saw only two Pride batsmen reaching double figures, Reifer was the star of the show with 5-20 in 10 overs, including five maidens. Christopher Barnwell had 2-26 in six overs, while Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd and Veerasammy Permaul had one wicket each.
After the lunch interval and innings break, Jaguars openers strode out to the middle to overcome the darkness. They lost Chandrapaul Hemraj for nine when he was bowled by Miguel Cummins. Vishaul Singh, who attained promotion to number three, negotiated well with Tagenarine Chanderpaul as the hosts were 56-1 at tea. Singh was rock solid on 22 while Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 13 from 74 balls.
Right arm medium, Carter bowled a long spell post the tea interval when he removed Chanderpaul for 19, out caught behind, and Vishaul Singh went in similar fashion for 33. Carter opened the floodgates as Jaguars slipped to 76-4 when Johnson edged one behind and was out for one off the bowling of Miguel Cummins.
Barnwell (02), Anthony Bramble (22) and Rutherford (15) all failed to offer significant resistance. The right-handed Barnwell was out caught in the slips off Carter, Bramble was trapped in front by Marquino Mindley after he was dropped by Carter at first slip, and Rutherford was brilliantly caught at first slip by Carter at 140-7.
Reifer continued his fruitful day remaining unbeaten on 33 from 75 balls, hitting five boundaries. Shepherd was the other unbeaten batsman at stumps with seven.
Day 2 promises to be a cracker. It will commence at 9:30h local time.
