ꟷ Jaguars bowled out for 190, but spinners lead fightback
Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette
The second day’s play in the CWI PCL 4-Day Championship match between the Guyana Jaguars and the Jamaica Scorpions, being played at the National Stadium at Providence, can be described as having been filled with ‘glorious’ uncertainties, as the Jaguars were bundled out for 190 in 83.1 overs in reply to the Scorpions’ first innings total of 187.
Kevin Sinclair
However, at stumps, the day’s accolades were evenly shared, as the Scorpions were on 50-3 in 14 overs, enjoying a lead of 47 runs; while the proverbial big fishes John Campbell (31) and Jermaine Blackwood (00) were among the three wickets that fell late in the day to spin twins Kevin Sinclair and Veerasammy Permaul.
Jaguars’ cautious approach
Jaguars resumed the second day on 17-0, with Chandrapaul Hemraj on 13 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul on four. Chanderpaul fell for five early in the day, when the score was on 32-1. He was trapped in front by off-spinner Pete Salmon, and rain hit Providence with Jaguars on 37-1, resulting in a 42-minute delay.
Team Scorpions celebrate a wicket
In the first over after the rain interval, Captain Leon Johnson played a sweet cover drive off a Salmon delivery, and it went into the cover boundary. However, Johnson did not last too long, departing for only six to his name with his team at 53-2.
One run later, Hemraj, who was looking promising, hit one rising in the point region and was caught for 38 from 68 balls, which included three fours. Hemraj stood his ground, but the umpire’s decision was final.
Considered Guyana’s most consistent batsman of recent, Christopher Barnwell joined forces with Vishal Singh, and the duo took Jaguars to lunch at 62-3 in 28 overs.
Raymon Reifer bats during his patient knock
Some level headed batting by the senior duo repaired the Jaguars innings before Barnwell lost his wicket for 34. He was bowled by a perfect Jamie Merchant off-break delivery that turned, beat bat and pad, and clipped the stumps.
The right-handed Barnwell, who was positive in his approach and had stroked some cracking shots, played 74 balls and hit four boundaries.
After the 58-run partnership with Barnwell and Singh, the Jaguars lost four wickets in the space of seven runs, slipping from 112-4 to 119-7.
John Campbell blasts Sinclair for a six over long-on
Scorpions were right back in the contest when the floodgates were opened at 115-5, as Singh departed for a 94-ball 22. He was trapped leg-before to Merchant, while Anthony Bramble, who made only two, fell at 115-6, trapped in front by left-arm spinner Patrick Harty.
Jaguars slipped further downhill as they felt the Scorpions’ sting. The visitors were playing aggressive cricket, with fielders backing up their bowlers and players appealing at the tops of their voices.
Sinclair looked clueless when he was bowled by the same off-spinner for one, which pushed the score to 119-7 in 56.1 overs.
Veerasammy Permaul showed his worth with the bat
Reifer, Permaul to the rescue
After the collapse, Raymon Reifer and Permaul, with a wealth of experience, piloted Jaguars to the tea interval with no further hiccups. The duo negotiated well with the score on 161-7. Reifer was on 24 and Permaul was unbeaten on 18.
Some calypso shots by the duo, who added 65 runs together, took the score to 184 before Permaul, the eighth wicket, was bowled by a Harty delivery that kept low. Permaul had played an innings of substance, facing 62 balls and scoring 35 runs that were decorated with six fours.
Two balls later, another delivery that kept low removed Nial Smith for a duck, and Jaguars were reeling at 184-9 in 79.3 overs.
Reifer was certainly running out of partners, and he was required to take most of the strike and shield the tail-enders. He had an opportunity to take three and keep the strike, but he exposed Keon Joseph and the innings was quickly concluded on 190 in 83.1 overs.
Reifer was left stranded on 33 from 107 balls, including two fours and one six, while Joseph was leg-before to leggie Nkruma Bonner for a duck. Harty bagged 3-30, while Merchant had 3-37 and Derval Green had 2-29 in a collective bowling effort.
Jaguars bag 3 at stumps
The Jaguars had secured a small lead of three, while the Scorpions then had 12 overs to bat to survive the day.
The visitors, however, lost wickets as follows: captain Campbell, who made 31 from 30 balls, was trapped in front by Sinclair, while Permaul removed night watchman Nicholson Gordon for one and Blackwood for a duck at the close; then a brilliant running catch from Reifer at cover saw the end of first innings half-centurion Blackwood.
Scorpions ended the day on 50-3 in 14 overs, with local boy Assad Fudadin unbeaten on 13. Permaul took 2-9 in five overs, while Sinclair took 1-17 from his five. The third day’s play will resume from 9:30h.
