Bad light stopped play yesterday at Guyana National Stadium on day two of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day match with the Windward Islands Volcanoes trailing defending champions Guyana Jaguars by 235 runs heading into the third day.
At stumps, the visitors were 127-2 from 47 overs in reply to the Jags first innings score of 362 when bad light stopped the match at 4:45pm. Windwards best batsman and last season’s highest run-getter, Devon Smith was set on 35 while Keddy Lesporis was on 26 with both players looking to press on today. Opener Tyrone Theophile cracked a classy 46 before Chris Barnwell accounted for his wicket, LBW.
Century maker Rajendra Chandrika turned his day one maiden knock of 140 into 146 batting for 425 minutes, facing 333 deliveries and carving 21 boundaries while other useful contributions from Vishaul Singh (48), Shiv Chanderpaul (34), skipper Leon Johnson (29) and Chris Barnwell (28) helped pilot thehome team to their massive first innings score.
Windward Islands off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who was a handful on day one, ended his first bowling outing with figures of 6-107 from 43 odd overs, preventing the Guyanese from further adding to their already daunting total.
During the chase, Volcanoes openers Theophile and Miles Bascombe (11) looked fearless in their approach as they played sensibly. However, Jacobs mustered up enough spin, fling and confidence in one of his deliveries which drew Bascombe forward into a shot, only to completely miss the ball and have his off-stumps disturbed as the Jaguars feasted upon their first prey.
Theophile on 29 and Smith took their team to 29-1 at tea and after play resumed, Barnwell sent the other opener packing after he appeared to be on course to another 50. Lesporis then teamed up with the West Indies Test opener as the pair knuckled down and saw off the bowlers until play ended.
Earlier, the 26 year-old Chandrika resumed on 140 and was keen to let his overnight partner Raymon Reifer (17), do the attacking as he thumped Shillingford for a big six, minutes before rain stopped play after 5.2 overs into the morning.
After a 40-minute break, play resumed but it was fast-bowler Mervin Matthew who benefited when he accounted for the wicket of Chandrika who was out leg before wicket. Reifer fell soon after to Shillingford who was caught by wicket-keeper Sunil Ambris.
Barnwell and Anthony Bramble (05) joined forces, before last season’s highest wicket-taker for seamers, left-armer Kenroy Peters removed him. Jacobs (14) joined forces Barnwell but the latter was trapped LBW by Volcanoes skipper Liam Sebastien’s part-time off-spin.
Shillingford the wrapped up the innings when he sent both removing both Jacobs and Ronsford Beaton (5) packing, leaving debutant Gudakesh Motie stranded on 4. The action continues today at 9:30hrs.
Scoreboard
Guyana Jaguars first innings (o/n 287-4)
A Fudadin b Mayes 4
R Chandrika lbw b Matthews 146
L Johnson c Smith b Shillingford 29
V Singh lbw b Shillingford 48
S Chanderpaul c Smith b Shillingford 34
R Reifer c wk Ambris b Shillingford 17
C Barnwell lbw b Liam Sebastien 28
A Bramble c Polius b Peters 6
S Jacobs c Liam Sebastien b Shillingford 14
R Beaton c Bascombe b Shillingford 5
G Motie not out 4
Extras: (nb-3, b-16, lb-8) 27
Total: (all out; 129.4 overs) 362
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-75, 3-179, 4-259, 5-301, 6-305, 7-325, 8-343, 9-357, 10-362
Bowling: Matthew 19-9-33-0, Mayers 12-4-44-1, Peters 20-5-53-0, Shillingford 42.4-13- 107-6, Liam Sebastien 27-5-65-1, Polius 9-1-36-0
Windward Islands Volcanoes first innings
T Theophile lbw b Barnwell 46
M Bascombe b Jacobs 11
D Smith not out 35
K Lesporis not out 26
Extras: (nb-1, w-3, lb-4, b-6) 14
Total: (for two wickets; 47 overs) 127
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-78
Bowling: Beaton 9-2-34-0, Reifer 6-1-11-0, Jacobs 13-3-28-1, Barnwell 10-2-23-1, Motie 9-0- 26-0.
