In a pink-ball day-night encounter in St Lucia, the Guyana Jaguars were bowled out for 223 on the opening day of the first round of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional 4-Day Tournament against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Vishaul Singh
In the much-hyped contest between the defending champions, Guyana Jaguars, and the fifth-place team last season, Windward Island Volcanoes, Kirk Edwards won the toss and opted to field first.
Jaguars’ contrasting duo, Trevon Griffith and Tagenarine Chanderpaul made their way to the middle to negotiate the likes of Delron Johnson, Josh Thomas and Ray Jordan. Chanderpaul looked tentative at the crease and was quickly removed by the lively Johnson.
The tall left-arm seamer bowled the young Chanderpaul for 2 with the score on 2 at the end of the first over.
Charles Pestano
Captain Leon Johnson, batting at number three for the Jaguars, partnered Griffith and the pair looked to consolidate. With a miscommunication between Griffith and Johnson in the ninth over of play, the Jaguars’ Captain fell via the run-out route.
Johnson was dismissed for 14 while Griffith followed soon after in the sixteenth over after scoring 19.
Tevin Imlach, making his 4-Day debut, looked composed until he skied a delivery that resulted in him being caught and bowled by Shane Shillingford for 8.
One of Guyana Jaguars senior batsmen, Vishaul Singh, looked trouble-free playing each ball on its merit. Singh was partnered by Christopher Barnwell, but another soft dismissal by a Jaguars batsman in this innings was on the cards. Barnwell scooped a full toss to mid-on after he hit three fours in his 23-ball 18.
Romario Shepherd
Singh continued to watch his partners walk towards the dressing room with Anthony Bramble dismissed for 4. With the score on 101-6, the more than capable batsman, Romario Shepherd, joined Singh and brilliantly rebuilt the Jaguars’ innings.
Singh brought up a well-deserved half century in the process where the pair added 95 runs together. After the break, the Volcanoes struck immediately, removing the well-set Singh for 74. He faced 150 balls, stroking six boundaries in his valuable knock in context to the game.
In the space of a run, Shepherd’s invaluable innings of 47 came to an end when he was run-out, during a miscommunication with Veerasammy Permaul.
Shepherd fell with the score on 197-8 and the 250 mark was far from Guyana Jaguars’ reach. Permaul was left unbeaten on 21 after he ran out of partners.
Shillingford was the pick of the bowlers with 4-61 while Johnson snatched 2-34.
After 69.1 overs had been bowled in the Guyana Jaguars innings, the Volcanoes top order had to negotiate in tricky conditions under the lights with the pink ball at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.
Keon Joseph and Shepherd bowled disciplined opening spells as Taryck Gabriel retired hurt after facing 14 balls without scoring. Edwards partnered Tyrone Theophile and the pair batted with caution.
In conditions for the seam to prosper, the Jaguars bowled all-four seam options with Clinton Pestano striking twice, leaving the Volcanoes reeling at 32-2 in 17 overs.
Theophile (18) and Edwards (7) were the batsmen dismissed at the end of the day’s play.
Hurricanes battle Pride
In the other match played at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados, Leeward Islands Hurricanes were bowled out for 252 in 72.2 overs against the Barbados Pride.
Axed Guyanese player Rajendra Chandrika opened the batting for the Hurricanes but he failed to make a significant contribution.
Keacy Carty’s century highlighted the opening day of the 2018-2019 Regional 4-Day Tournament. Carty stroked 113 but no other batsmen passed 19 runs so he lacked support throughout.
Hayden Walsh picked up 5 wickets for Barbados Pride. Barbados Pride were 12-0 at stumps on day 1. Day two of both matches will commence from 14:00h, Eastern Caribbean time.
