A polished and chanceless 134-run unbroken fourth-wicket stand between Gajanand Singh and Leon Johnson, ensured a decent response by the Invitational XI against the national team’s 444-8 declared on the second day of the of the second trial match at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground yesterday. Singh and Johnson, who has been going through a rough patch with the bat for the most of last year, settled the ship of the Invitational XI after they were shakily poised at 45-3. By stumps on the second day, the Invitational XI had already reached 179-3 from 37 overs with Singh unbeaten on 79 and Johnson on an undefeated 52.
When their innings started, opening pacer Esaun Crandon had Christopher Barnwell trapped lbw off the first ball for nought and then struck shortly after to dismiss Rajendra Chandrika for 16. An expensive Brandon Bess, who took 1-54 from seven overs, accounted for the wicket of former national opening batsman Krishna Arjune.
Assad Fudadin had earlier pushed his overnight score of 111 to 152 when he retired out while wicketkeeper Derwin Christian smashed a whirlwind 84 from 60 balls. Narsingh Deonarine met his demise in the second over of the day after adding only one run to his overnight score of 61. Singh and Johnson added class to the Invitational XI’s innings with excellent running and that came from an array of shots. They made the national bowlers work hard on a flat pitch and a heavy outfield much to the delight of the sprinkling of spectators at the venue.
Both batsmen mixed aggression with sensible batting at various points of their innings before Singh brought up his 50 from 52 balls with seven boundaries and Johnson, bringing up his in 78 balls that included two maximums and six fours; by the end of the day, Singh had already stroked 11 boundaries from his 93 balls.
Earlier, Christian raced to a half century before he was caught and bowled by off spinner Steven Jacobs for 84. His knock included eight fours and six huge maximums while Fudadin hit 19 boundaries and three sixes after spending 434 minutes at the crease.
The match ends today.
