From Marlon Munroe in Blairmont
The Rest Team swung the pendulum back their way after a brilliant unbeaten century from opening batsman Shemroy Barrington on the third day of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Four-Day tournament at the Blairmont Community Centre ground yesterday.
It was a well-carved innings that had a mix of elegance and aggression for his team that resumed yesterday with a 190-run deficit from their first innings.
By the close of play the Rest Team had reached 322-4 (90) and established a 132-run lead after Berbice had enforced the follow-on.
Barrington was unbeaten on 152 while his partner Delbert Hicks was not out on 11.The 22-year-old Barrington stroked 19 fours and a six in his third century at this level as he shared in vital partnerships with Wasim Haslim (94), who scored his second half century of the match with 54, Captain Gajanand Singh (95), who made another mess of his good start with 35, Jonathan Foo (30) and Ryan Ramdass (32), who made 21 runs apiece.
It was a hard day at the office for the defending champions’ bowlers on the docile West Berbice pitch.
Off spinner Royston Crandon was the most successful bowler with 2-42 (12) while his older brother medium pacer Esaun Crandon, off spinner Narsingh Deonarine and pacer Brandon Bess got one wicket apiece.
Starting the day 190 runs behind on first innings Barrington, who made zero in the first innings, seemed focused on making amends. He executed his task of reparation to overhaul his team’s deficit with his Captain Singh, who also seemed bent on making up for his first innings score of 14.
But like déjà vu, the post lunch period brought a milestone and the breaking of another well crafted partnership. Barrington brought up his 50 with a sweep to midwicket for four off left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul while Singh, after his first lapse in concentration, went softly after making play out in middle look easy for the entire morning in the short period after lunch.
He stretched a long way down to off spinner Crandon and lobbed the delivery into the hands of substitute fielder Ranga Latchana at cover and a 95-run second wicket stand was broken. Singh stroked four boundaries in his 35 from 68 balls. Barrington continued to show the class that had propelled him into the national team two years ago. Every ball was played on its merit while he exhibited even more class as he gracefully dispatched bowlers to the boundary. Foo joined Barrington and was aggressive from the inception. He hit two sixes of R. Crandon: the first over midwicket and the second over backward square. His proclivity to go after Crandon also brought his downfall.
Foo, was caught at the solitary slip by Sewnarine Chattergoon off Crandon for a 19-ball 21 as two quick wickets left them on 147-3. Barrington and Haslim continued the trend of being watchful despite some chaotic running between the wicket at times during their partnership.
Eventually the pair settled back into their roles and the Berbice attack seemed ordinary. The Berbice Captain looked for the break through: he introduced stock spin bowlers Devon Clements and Richard Ramdeen. But the batsmen remained steadfast and took their team past 190 in 50.5 overs and to the Tea interval with a six-run lead (196-3) from 55 overs.
Barrington was unbeaten on 87 and Haslim, supporting, on 23. On the resumption, Crandon introduced his eighth bowler in off spinner Chattergoon. In his second over Haslim pulled Chattergoon over backward square then Haslim elegantly stroked Brandon Bess through cover for four in the next over.
The Rest Team was in control and the Berbicians tried every strategy to shift the momentum back in their favour. Haslim ended Bess’ over with a glide through third man for four as he quickly approached another half century.
He also continued his onslaught on Permaul with a lift over the infield to the long off region for four.
Shortly after, Haslim worked Latcha behind square for a single to bring up his second half century of the match. His half century comprised six fours and a six from 118 balls in 128 minutes. Barrington followed suit when he pushed a Latcha delivery that was misfielded by Crandon for a single to bring up his century.
Barrington’s century came in 280 minutes after facing 180 balls, 13 of which were fours. Afterwards, some torpor from the batsmen resulted in them falling into a rut and fluidity went out of their game as the Berbice bowlers began to peg away.
Small wonder that Haslim tentatively pushed forward to off spinner Narsingh Deonarine’s ‘flighted’ slow delivery and was caught at silly mid off by Richard Ramdeen for 54. Barrington survived his share of ill advised strokes and bad running to settle back into his comfort zone and use his feet to lift Permaul over mid off for four. Deon Ferrier swept Deonarine for six over midwicket to reassert the Rest Team’s advantage. But in the next over (81st) Ferrier was unlucky to be adjudged lbw by Zaheer Moakan after getting an inside edge to medium pacer Esaun Crandon.
Ferrier made 21 (1×4, 1×6) from 20 balls and shared in a 48-run partnership, which pushed the score to 291. Barrington continued to shoulder the batting by hitting Bess through extra cover and then followed by cutting Esaun Crandon through cover before posting his 150.
The passage of play after this was quiet until stumps were raised at 17:00. Today is the final day.
Scoreboard
Berbice first innings 392 (R. Crandon 117)
Rest Team first innings 202 (W. Haslim 52, V. Permaul 5-65)
Rest Team second innings
R. Ramdass c wkp Bramble b Bess 21
S. Barrington not out 152
G. Singh c sub Latchana b R. Crandon 35
J. Foo c Chattergoon b R. Crandon 21
W. Haslim c Ramdeen b Deonarine 54
D. Ferrier lbw E. Crandon 21
D. Hicks not out 11
Did not bat: K. Ramoo, K. Carmichael, R. Nanan, K. Fraser,
Extras: (b-5, lb-3, w-1) 9
Total: (5 wkts from 90 overs) 322
Bowling: E. Crandon 11-3-35-1, B. Bess 9-0-57-0, V. Permaul 26-7-83-0, S. Latcha 15-3-43-0, R. Crandon 12-5-42-2, N. Deonarine 12-3-46-1, D. Clements 1-1-0-0, R. Ramdeen 1-1-0-0, S. Chattergoon 3-1-8-0
FOW: 1-32, 2-117, 3-147, 4-243, 5-291
