PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Veteran West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored his 65th first class century as Guyana produced a gallant effort before going down by 45 runs to Trinidad and Tobago, on a thrilling last day of their fourth round encounter of the Regional Four-Day Championship here today.
Set a challenging target of 376 in the final session of Friday’s penultimate day, Guyana made a fight of it after resuming on 54 for one, fighting every step of the way before they were bowled out for 330, just minutes before the scheduled close.
At the heart of the effort was the lion-hearted Chanderpaul who carved out a magnificent 108 and strung together several partnerships that gave Guyana hope at stages during the contest at Queen’s Park Oval.
Tail-ender Paul Wintz scored an even half-century, nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo struck and unbeaten 47 and Ramnaresh Sarwan, 42, to help galvanise Guyana’s effort towards full points.
Chanderpaul, in his first match of the season, faced 195 balls in 305 minutes at the crease, counting 14 fours.
He put on 102 for the fifth wicket with Sarwan and then added a further 73 for the eighth wicket with Wintz, after Guyana had plunged to 194 for seven in the post-lunch session.
Chanderpaul and Bishoo then posted 60 for the ninth wicket, a partnership that sent nerves through the T&T camp as the game entered a tense period late in the evening.
Off-spinner Sunil Narine was the leading bowler with four for 105 while fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was impressive in claiming three for 49. Medium pacer Dwayne Bravo chipped in with two for 49.
Guyana were off to a terrible start when Tagenarine Chanderpaul added just two to his overnight 27 before being taken at slip by Kieron Pollard off Dwayne Bravo at 59 for two.
With just one run added, Leon Johnson suffered the indignity of a first ball “duck” when he edged to Pollard at slip off Gabriel.
Bishoo, dropped at backward point by Imran Khan on four off the day’s second ball, was then forced to retire hurt at 75 for three after being struck on the fingers by Gabriel.
When Narine had Narsingh Deonarine caught at cover by Rayad Emrit for seven, Guyana were in turmoil at 82 for four.
However, Chanderpaul and Sarwan batted confidently to haul their side back into the game, with the right-handed Sarwan stroking six fours off 72 balls in 129 minutes at the crease.
He was eyeing a half-century when he was beaten for pace and bowled by Gabriel and Narine claimed Derwin Christian for one in the next over to a catch at slip by Dwayne Bravo with just one added to the score, to spark a slide where three wickets fell for seven runs.
Wintz then lashed ten fours and off 67 balls as the tail wagged and when he was bowled by Narine’s doosra, Bishoo returned to strike eight fours in a 90-ball knock, to carry Guyana closer.
Chanderpaul reached his century off 175 balls in 276 minutes but edged Dwayne Bravo behind half-hour later, as hopes of a win finally evaporated.
