Dowlin (121 not out) Chanderpaul (78 not out) maul Windwards

Stand-in captain Travis Dowlin and experienced hand Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who hit medium pacer Daren Sammy for two sixes, took the Windward Islands bowling by the scruff of its neck yesterday to propel Guyana to 312-3 at the close of the first day’s play of their final round Carib Beer Cup match at the National Stadium at Providence.
Though he was outscored by his senior partner and West Indies batting linch-pin Chanderpaul in the final session, the day belonged to Dowlin, who not only called correctly, but also recorded his fourth first-class century.
The two batsmen have so far put on 151 runs for the fourth wicket after joining forces with Guyana in a spot of bother on 161-3 following the dismissal of Leon Johnson for an attractive 46.
Earlier, openers Sewnarine Chattergoon and Krishna Arjune put on 42 for the first wicket before Arjune, who struck four boundaries, was bowled by Mervyn Matthew for 18 while Chattergoon, who was dropped when on 15 off the burly Nelon Pascal, was caught by wicketkeeper Lyndon James off off-spinner Shane Shillingford for 27.
At Lunch Guyana were 70-2 with Dowlin on 12 and former West Indies U-19 captain Johnson on eight and with West Indies vice-captain and the team’s leading run scorer Ramnaresh Sarwan advised to rest, someone needed to put their hand up.
That someone proved to be Dowlin.
He and Johnson added 106 for the third wicket before Johnson fell six runs short of what would have been his third half century at this level.
Johnson batted for 173 minutes, faced 124 balls and struck five fours and with his dismissal the pair of Dowlin and Chanderpaul took centre stage before a smattering of spectators.
At tea, Guyana were 166-3 with Dowlin unbeaten on 66 and Chanderpaul not out on 4.
The final session of play saw the pair accelerating the scoring.
Dowlin brought up his century with a hook for four. He had batted for 231 minutes, faced 181 balls and struck 12 fours.
Chanderpaul, not to be outdone, soon reached his 77th first-class half century.
He has so far struck six fours and three sixes in his unbeaten innings of 78 which has come off 116 balls and in 142 minutes.
Today is the second day. (KB)