Singh, Barnwell propel Jaguars out of trouble on second day

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

By Brandon Corlette

The batsman Vishaul Singh has again saved the Guyana Jaguars blushes, this time with a gutsy unbeaten 68; while Christopher Barnwell counter-attacked with a shot-filled 46 to cause the Jaguars to finish the second day of play against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on 215-5, attaining a small lead of 33 runs.
With abundant sunshine filling the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua,the second day’s play opened with the Guyana Jaguars on 36-2 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Clinton Pestano occupying the crease. They made the Hurricanes bowlers toil for their wickets, as Chanderpaul continued his solid

stroke-play while Pestano milked the bowling.
After the pair had added 34 runs for the third wicket partnership, which was dominated by Pestano, Cornwall struck for the second time in the match, shattering the stumps of Pestano at 70-3. Pestano had played the role of night watchman, batting at number four and scoring a 44-ball 25 that included four timely boundaries.
Vishaul Singh, first innings half-centurion in the opening round, partnered Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and the left handers rotated the strike, especially taken by Singh. Batting industriously for 24 overs, Chanderpaul and Singh added 58 runs for the fourth wicket partnership. Chanderpaul’s resistance ended after he had scored a painstaking 29 from 156 balls. He was trapped in front by leg-spinner Damion Jacobs, the Hurricanes proving that the strength of their team lies in the bowling department.
With the score on 128-4 after 54.6 overs, Singh was partnered by seasoned all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, and the Jaguars’ scoring rate moved onwards. Barnwell was the most attacking batsman of the day, his savagery causing Hurricanes captain Devon Thomas to spread the field.
Singh and Barnwell added 69 runs before Barnwell was dismissed for a 61-ball 46, hitting three boundaries and one six. In the context of the game, his innings was invaluable to the Jaguars after their top order had failed.
In the process, Singh held things together, bringing up his second half-century in as many matches. Anthony Bramble entered the fray with the score on 197-5 to ensure the Jaguars lose no other wicket at stumps. Bramble, who scored his maiden century against this same opposition, looked tentative in his stroke-play, failing to time the cricket ball sweetly.
No further hiccups occurred, as the day, which began with an early delay, ended with the beautiful sunshine beating a dignified retreat from Antigua. Singh ended on a composed 68 from 157 balls, hitting seven boundaries; while Bramble is on 11.
Rahkeem Cornwall was the Hurricanes most successful bowler, ending day two with 2-39 from 16 overs, including two maidens, while Damion Jacobs and Elvin Beeridge has one wicket each. The third day of play in Antigua will commence from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time.