Contrasting half-centuries from Johnathan Foo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul steered the Leon Johnson led XI to 240 all out against the Vishaul Singh XI yesterday after day one of the Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) first of two four-day practice matches played at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda.
Foo, the former National T20 batsman, smoked an aggressive yet mature 85 from 131 balls with eight fours and three massive sixes. He shared a 92-run eight wicket partnership with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who hit five fours in his 24. Chanderpaul faced 120 balls for his 52, caressing four fours and a six during his 175-minute stay at the crease. The veteran Guyana and West Indies batsman shared a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 60 with Chris Barnwell who chipped in with 27.
Fast-bowler Jeremy Gordon was the chief tormentor with the ball for the opposition as he scythed through the top order ending with figures of 4-41 from 13 overs. The lively pacer got support from off-spinner Anthony Adams who picked up 2-38 while a wicket apiece went to Steven Jacobs, Amir Khan, Kemo Paul and Raun Johnson.
At stumps Johnson’s XI were 17-0 after 7 overs trailing by 224 runs heading into day two with openers Kandasammy Surujnarine (2) and Tage Chanderpaul (9) both unbeaten.
Earlier, after choosing to bat first Johnson’s XI got off to a relatively bad start losing openers Trevon Griffith (17) and Rajendra Chandrika (1) who were removed by Johnson and Gordon respectively.
Gordon, a fast-bowler who played five ODI’s for Canada then continued his onslaught, removing left-handers Robin Bacchus (0) who was bowled after being beaten for pace and Narsingh Deonarine (1) who was caught a point by Paul.
Chanderpaul and Barnwell joined forces and took their team to 79-4 at the lunch break doing the repair job after the early blows. The two players were cautious yet effective during their partnership, picking up eight fours and a six as they opposition bowlers found it difficult to make inroads.
Following the resumption of play Barnwell whose innings showed his application and concentration was caught at slip after fending off a sharp rising delivery from Gordon.
Chanderpaul continued to dig in and frustrate the bowlers and, along with new man Foo playing positively despite showing glimpses of his aggressive nature, the team brought up their 100 in the 35 over.
Chanderpaul then did what is customary for him over the years, he hustled for two quick runs to reach another classy 50 off 104 deliveries, batting 161 minutes further showing the youngsters that runs can be gotten once they apply themselves.
The breakthrough came for the Singh XI when Jacobs removed the `big fish’ Chanderpaul who was caught at short mid-wicket by Johnson leaving the score 124-6. Anthony Bramble (2) had a brief stay at the crease but, after wildly advancing to a delivery with extra flight from Khan which he missed, he was smartly stumped by Jason Sinclair behind the stumps.
At tea the Johnson XI was 148-7 with Foo looking good on 30 and Permaul on one. The final session of the day saw Foo imposing his authority early with a series of punches, cuts, pulls and drives which soon took the right-hander to a half-century with the last shot landing somewhere on Regent Street.
The two Berbicians showed dangerous intent with Foo continuing his attack looking more and more mature with every stroke, raising the team’s 200 in the 65th over. Back-to-back pull shots from Foo off his countryman Johnson saw the Former T20 national creep into the 70’s.
Permaul was then foxed by Adams and had his stumps castled so too was Kemol Savory who was dismissed for duck. Paul Wintz then walked to the middle to partner Foo who was 22 runs short of his century but after looking set for his highest score to date the right-hander attempting another one of his lusty shots off Paul held out to the deep mid-off fielder who was patrolling the boundary leaving Wintz unbeaten on 10.
The action continues today at 9:30hrs.
