ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Guyana captain and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul produced a lethal burst but it failed to prevent Windward Islands from taking first innings points on the second day of their second round clash in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.
On a day when 17 wickets tumbled at Windsor Park, the Windwards fought their way to 186 for eight, in reply to Guyana’s disappointing 138 all out.
Permaul has so far collected five for 65, a spell that sent the Windwards sliding from 58 for one to 103 for six and gave Guyana hope of taking a first innings lead.
Earlier, Permaul had also top scored with 36 and featured in a crucial 49-run, eighth wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Derwin Christian who struck 28.
Their effort lifted Guyana from a precarious position of 70 for seven after they resumed the day on 24 for one.
But pacer Nelon Pascal, with five for 50 and West Indies captain Darren Sammy, with four for 51, got the upper hand on the Guyanese.
In response, the Windwards lost their most experienced batsman in Devon Smith, caught at the wicket off pacer Rensford Beaton for one with the score on five.
Andre Fletcher (36) and Johnson Charles (17) then put on 53 for the second wicket, ensuring the Windwards reached the tea break with no further loss.
However, Fletcher failed to add after the interval as he was prised out by Permaul who then ripped through the Windwards middle order.
West Indies Twenty20 player Garey Mathurin (27) and Test off-spinner Shane Shillingford (15) then propped up the innings with a 50-run, seventh wicket stand to see the Windwards past their target.
When both fell within five runs of each other, Pascal threw his bat for a 26-ball, unbeaten 24 as the Windwards eked out a lead of 48 runs.
