Vishaul “Cheesy” Singh cracked an unbeaten hundred while Shiv Chanderpaul grafted a gritty fifty on day one to help bail the Guyana Jaguars out of some deep trouble following pacer Alzarri Joseph’s lethal burst for Leeward Hurricanes in round two of the WICB/Professional Cricket League (PCL) 4-Day tourney which continued yesterday at Providence, Guyana.
Guyana ended stumps yesterday, with the score 218-5 from 95 overs after being 37-3 courtesy of Joseph, the West Indies U19 pacer who razed the Jags top three to end with figures of 3-44. Singh continued his fine batting form over the past 12 months by completing his 2nd first class ton, an unbeaten 111 which was highlighted by his patience, batting for some 330 minutes with 10 fours and will resume today with Chris Barnwell who was on 19.
Cheesy shared a pivotal repair 171-run fourth wicket partnership with Chanderpaul who dug in with a rock steady 65 inclusive of six fours which pulled the defending champions out of their ditch. After being sent in to bat, Joseph razed the Jags top three in quick succession, first removing Guyana’s lone century-maker thus far Rajendra Chandrika (07), who was caught at first slip by Orlando Peters.
The 18 year-old who finished his first spell with figures of 6-0-20-3, then picked up wickets two and three, when he had senior left-handers Assad Fudadin (05), who’s woes continued, trapped LBW and Captain Leon Johnson who was caught by his opposite number, Steve Liburd at second slip for duck.
At 21-3, Singh and Chanderpaul built a wall to prevent the Hurricanes from causing further damage as the younger of the two left-handers kept the scoreboard ticking at a decent rate as he settled on nicely on 45, while the veteran sought to tire the bowlers with grueling 7 from 42 balls, taking Guyana to 72-3 at lunch.
Singh, who battled through a very difficult period in the morning session, reached his 50 after facing 87 and batting for well over 100 minutes with a streaky shot for four off Gavin Tonge, when play resumed after lunch. Chanderpaul took his score into the 20’s with his first four after 117 balls which he followed up with another, both off the bowling of Jacques Taylor (1-39).
Up until tea, the pair of left-handers had added some 63 runs from the session after lunch which took the Jaguars to 135-3 with Singh on 73 and Chanderpaul on 40. The century 4th wicket partnership continued to increase as the Jags entered the final session of day one with both batters aiming for respective milestones.
Chanderpaul took on Rakeem Cornwall’s (1-63) off-spin, thumping the spinner for a few boundaries, one of which brought up the 41 year-old’s fifty which required some 160 balls. Chanderpaul then fell to a loose drive giving Taylor a breakthrough. All-rounder Raymon Reifer fell for another duck this season, bowled comprehensively by Cornwall.
Singh and Barnwell defied the bowlers and saw off the remaining overs without further hiccups. Day two will bowl off today at 9:30hrs.
Guyana Jaguars first innings
A Fudadin lbw b Joseph 5
R Chandrika c Peters b Joseph 7
L Johnson c Liburd b Joseph 0
V Singh not out 111
S Chanderpaul c Cruickshank b Taylor 65
R Reifer b Cornwall 0
C Barnwell not out 19
Extras: (nb-2, w-3, lb-4, b-6) 15
Total: (for five wickets; 95 overs) 218
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-16, 3-21, 4-192, 5-193
Bowling: Tonge 11-3-21-0, Joseph 13-0-44-3, O Peters 5-1-11-0,
Cornwall 36-14-63-1, Cruickshank 6-1-21-0, Taylor 19-8-39-1, Bonner
3-1-6-0, S Peters 2-1-8-0
