The smiles, evident on the faces of the Guyana players at 1pm on Saturday disappeared yesterday as the Windward Islands took control of their eighth-round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional four day match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Resuming on their overnight score of 75-1, the Windwards raced to 185-4 at lunch with Darren Sammy (54) and Donwell Hector (01) the not out batsmen.
They eventually declared their second innings closed at 375-9.
Needing to score 311 for an outright victory from a maximum of 98 overs, Guyana were 24 without loss, with Sewnarine Chattergoon on 15 and Christopher Barnwell 8 at the close.
They need a further 287 runs to win from 90 overs on today’s final day.
Earlier Andre Fletcher, (not out on two overnight) was caught by Barnwell at first slip off the bowling of Veerasammy Permaul with the score on 92.
Opener Keddy Lesporis, who had retired hurt the previous evening after being struck in the groin area by Trevon Garraway, resumed his innings at the fall of Fletcher’s wicket.
He added only a single to his score and was brilliantly run out by Royston Crandon for 28.
Night watchman Camillus Alexander frustrated the home team en route to his maiden first-class, half-century.
He was dropped by Leon Johnson on the deep backward square leg boundary off Garraway and was eventually bowled for 62 which included 10 fours.
Sammy duly posted his 15th first class half century from 57 deliveries, hitting nine fours in the process.
He was eventually caught by Narsingh Deonarine at mid on off Devendra Bishoo for 58 made off 81 deliveries and included nine fours whilst batting for 88 minutes.
Permaul (2-62), Bishoo (2-73) and Esaun Crandon 2-76 were the principal wicket takers for Guyana, who for the seventh time this season, saw their opponents declaring either their first or second innings closed against them.
