Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo ripped through Barbados’ top order in the final session of day two in their four-day regional battle at the Providence National Stadium to put Guyana well in contention for first innings point yesterday.
Barbados struggled to 88– 5 at stumps chasing Guyana’s first innings total of 330 and are 242 runs behind with five wickets in hand. Guyana resumed from their overnight score of 176–3 and piled on 154 runs before reaching their final score in 127.1 overs.
The Bajan side commenced their chase just under a half an hour into the final session with Dale Richards and Kraigg Braithwaite looking solid at the top of the batting order. Richards batted aggressively for his 26 then was caught leg before wicket (lbw) to Permaul with the score on 50. Kevin Hope added 20 runs to the tally then became Bishoo’s first victim when he miscued a shot and it went into the hands of Royston Crandon, Barbados was then 74 – 2.
Braithwaite at the other end stood firmly against the pace attack of Christopher Barnwell and Brandon Bess and the spin attack of Bishoo and Permaul while his teammates found it hard to keep the spinners at bay making it quite hard for Barbados to score. Jason Holder found himself back in the dressing room without scoring as Permaul recorded his second wicket. Ryan Hinds soon followed Holder into the dressing room after he was bowled by Bishoo on four to leave Barbados at 83 – 4.
Permaul’s third wicket was that of Kevin Stoute who was dismissed without scoring in the final over of the day. Braithwaite is unbeaten at the crease on 31 along with Roston Chase who is not-out on four.
Earlier in the day, Assad Fudadin was overnight at the crease with 77 while Crandon who was at the other end was yet to score. The pair added 19 runs before Crandon edged one behind to Shane Dowrich on five which set Guyana to 195 – 4.
The skipper, Fudadin batted for 317 minutes and faced 229 deliveries before he fell at 84 and Guyana was 196 – 5. Fudadin, who laced his innings with five fours and two sixes, fell to a Stoute delivery which he put into the hands of Holder.
The combination of Vishaul Singh and Barnwell was a completely new pair at the middle and they both got good starts.
However, Barnwell edged one to Dale Richards at first slip off a Ryan Hinds delivery and went back to pavilion for 24.
Derwin Christian then joined Singh and they added 81 for the seventh wicket partnership. Christian batted patiently for 115 minutes and made a cautious 27 from 67 deliveries then met his demise the same way Barnwell did with Guyana on 328 – 7.
Singh fell leg-before-wicket to Pedro Collins in the final over before tea for a well-played 66. His innings was graced with sweetly timed strokes in which he recorded five fours, Guyana at the time was 328 – 8.