ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Captain Leon Johnson’s second first class century held Guyana together on the opening day of their sixth round match against Leeward Islands here yesterday.
The 26-year-old struck 110 as Guyana, sent in at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, batted all day for 238 for nine. Wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble was the other batsman to pass 20 with 28.
Leg-spinner Anthony Martin took four for 48 while pacer Gavin Tonge (2-43) and left-arm spinner Yannick Leonard (2-51) picked up two wickets apiece.
Guyana’s start was a terrible one, losing Trevon Griffith without a run on the board, lbw to seamer Kelbert Walters. Left-hander Assad Fudadin followed soon after for 13 with the score on 27, paving the way for Johnson.
Though he lost opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (19) and Chanderpaul Hemraj to leave Guyana on 64 for four, the left-handed Johnson kept his head down and batted sensibly.
All told, he struck 15 fours and a six in an innings requiring 202 balls and spanning nearly 4-1/2 hours. He put on 66 for the fifth wicket with Bramble and a further 58 for the sixth wicket with Zaheer Mohamed (17).
Johnson was seventh out, taken at the wicket off Martin, with Guyana on 207.
Scoreboard
GUYANA 1st Innings
T Griffith lbw b Walters 0
T Chanderpaul lbw b Martin 19
A Fudadin c Martin b Tonge 13
L Johnson c wkp Thomas b Martin 110
C Hemraj c Powell b Leonard 7
+A Bramble c Powell b Walters 28
Z Shadir lbw b Leonard 17
V Permaul b Martin 15
A Khan not out 19
R Beaton c Powell b Martin 0
K Joseph not out 7
Extras (b1, w2) 3
TOTAL (9 wkts, 90 overs) 238
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-27, 3-52, 4-64, 5-130, 6-188, 7-207, 8-212, 9-212.
Bowling: Walters 15-7-24-1, Powell 3-0-20-0, Martin 24-8-48-4, Tonge 21-7-43-2, Boatswain 8-0-35-0, Willett 8-1-16-0, Leonard 11-2-51-2.
LEEWARD ISLANDS – Kieran Powell, Javier Liburd, Devon Thomas, Orlando Peters, Tonito Willett, Jahmar Hamilton, Anthony Martin, Gavin Tonge, Anthony Boatswain, Kelbert Walters, Yannick Leonard.
Toss: Leewards.
Umpires: Tanvir Ahmed, Gregory Brathwaite.
