The attractive right-hander stroked an unbeaten 81 to help Guyana to 239 for three at the close at the National Cricket Stadium, after they were sent in.
He has so far shared in an unbroken stand of 144 for the fourth wicket with Assad Fudadin who finished on 65, an effort which pulled Guyana around from the dodgy position of 95 for three just after lunch.
Sarwan, who missed the earlier part of the season due to injury, carefully crafted an innings on prudent shot selection and moved within 19 runs of three figures in his first match of the four-day tournament.
The Guyana captain, sidelined since last December after injuring his back on the West Indies tour of Australia, faced 122 balls in 212 minutes at the crease.
Dropped by Miles Bascombe at silly mid-on early in his innings off leading wicket-taker Shane Shillingford, Sarwan picked up 11 boundaries including several beautifully timed square cuts.
The 29-year-old showed more aggression in the final session with an array of shots including a pull off medium pacer Delorn Johnson to midwicket for four to reach his half century, ahead of Fudadin who came to the crease before him.
Fudadin, who played a key supporting role especially against Shillingford’s clever off-spin, stroked eight fours in an innings which spanned 196 balls and 247 minutes.
After an opening stand of 54, Guyana lost two quick wickets just before lunch as openers Sewnarine Chattergoon and Rajendra Chandrika fell to Shillingford who finished with three for 77.
Chattergoon cracked two fours before edging to captain Devon Smith at slip for 27 after failing to negotiate a delivery that bounced and turned. Chandrika, meanwhile, was caught and bowled after being deceived in flight.
Shillingford, the only bowler to threaten the Guyanese batsmen on an easy wicket, picked up his third scalp shortly after lunch when Singh played across the line and was trapped lbw for 22 after hitting three fours.
SCOREBOARD
GUYANA 1st Innings
S Chattergoon c Smith b Shillingford 27
R Chandrika c b Shillingford 26
G Singh lbw b Shillingford 22
A Fudadin not out 65
*R Sarwan not out 81
Extras (lb1, w1, nb16) 18
TOTAL (3 wkts, 91 overs) 239
Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-75, 3-95.
To bat: +D Christian, R Crandon, E Crandon, V Permaul, D Bishoo, K Joseph.
Bowling: Pascal 12-0-41-0, Johnson 14-7-25-0, Emmanuel 7-0-24-0, Lewis 15-0-41-0, Mathurin 12-1-30-0, Shillingford 31-9-77-3.
WINDWARDS – *D Smith, G Mathurin, T Theophile, L Sebastien, M Bascombe, R Lewis, S Shillingford, L James, C Emmanuel, D Johnson, N Pascal.
Toss: Windward Islands.
Umpires: Vivian Johnson, Gazi Sohel.
