By Clifton Ross
Hostile fast bowling from Jamaican left armer, Sheldon Cotterell, with a four-wicket haul, saw Guyana stumbling to a tournament low 96 all out in 30.5 overs on the second day as the seventh-round Regional Four-day tournament continued at the Providence National Stadium.
Jamaica ended the day with a lead of 295 with six wickets still standing and in a perfect position to secure victory.
Former West Indies wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh Jr. continued his good form, smacking back-to-back half centuries and taking Jamaica to 183-4 with two more days of action to go.
Resuming on 204-9 Jamaica failed to significantly add to their overnight total managing only 4 runs, three from Baugh who was on 78 and Shelton Cotterell who added one run to his overnight score of 3.
Baugh was dismissed for a solid 81 and was the first wicket to fall on the second day when he popped a return catch to fast bowler Keon Joseph who picked up his fourth wicket of the game ending with figures of 15.5 overs, 1 maiden, 53 runs and 4 wickets.
Guyana’s approach in their first inning was poor and reckless. They lost their first 8 wickets for 53 runs. Assad Fudadin was run out for 1 by Nikita Miller, while Rajendra Chandrika’s poor run continued when he became the first victim of Cotterell who had him trapped lbw for duck.
In-form Leon Johnson who has been the most consistent batsmen in the team throughout the tournament failed to get off the mark when he succumbed to a catch by Cotterell off the bowling of Andrew Richardson. Narsingh Deonarine was Cotterell’s second victim when he had his stumps pegged back for 13.
Chanderpaul Hemraj’s inclusion as cover for Ramnaresh Sarwan did not pay off as he was caught by Danza Hyatt for a duck becoming Cotterell’s third scalp. Allrounder Steven Jacobs was bowled for nought as Cotterell picked up his fourth wicket of the morning.
The rains came and went as it did throughout the matches played at the Providence Stadium.
The lower order was ripped out by allrounder Dave Bernard Jr. who grabbed 3 for 18. He got rid of wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble for 15 trapping him lbw on the stroke of lunch.
Upon the resumption of play he followed Bramble’s dismissal with that of pacer Ronsford Beaton (1) who fell in the same manner. His third wicket was that of Keon Joseph who was bowled for 5. Skipper Veerasammy Permaul 49 not out was the only player to offer resistance against the Jamaican attack.
Jamaica’s second innings started off well as openers Danza Hyatt 49 and Brenton Parchment 19 played cautiously but yet aggressively.
The first wicket to go was that of Hyatt who fell to Jacobs when he was caught in the deep by Assad Fudadin who took a great leaping catch. Parchment soon fell to Jacobs who had him caught lbw.
At tea Jamaica were steady at 52-2. Jacobs then picked up his third wicket when he had Nkrumah Bonner caught by Hemraj for 1.
The Skipper Tamar Lambert then came in and along with Jermaine Blackwood steadied the ship. Lambert was dismissed for 19 by Permaul when he gifted a catch to Devendra Bishoo.
Bernard Jr. came in and was immediately removed by the skipper who had him caught for duck by Johnson at slip.
Facing the hat trick ball, keeper Carlton Baugh Jr came in and blocked Permaul’s delivery.
With the score 87-5, Baugh Jr (59 not out) and Jermaine Blackwood (41 not out) the show began. The two smashed and carved the Guyanese bowlers to all parts of the ground. They even ensured a few travelled over the rope.
Baugh registered his second half century of the match and with support from Blackwood the two put Jamaica in total control of the match giving their team a lead of 295 heading into the third day.
