From Clifton Ross in Barbados
Shai Hope and Johnathan Carter cracked unbeaten centuries as the Barbados Pride left defending champs Guyana Jaguars needing 353 more runs to win with 10 wickets in hand and a day remaining in round seven of the 2015-16 PCL Regional 4-Day match at the Kensington Oval.
Openers Rajendra Chandrika (28) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (23) who was dropped three times, took the Jaguars to 52-0 at stumps in their second innings, replying to the Pride’s second innings 320-4 declared. They will seek to take their side close to the huge total when play resumes today.
A contrasting display of power-hitting and finesse embodied the unbroken 162-run fifth wicket partnership between the two West Indian players. The left-handed Carter, who played 13 ODI’s, hammered an even 100 off just 104 balls with eight fours and three sixes while the more stylish 22 year-old West Indies Test opener Hope grafted a patient 114 with six fours, an innings which spanned 338 minutes.
The Guyanese bowlers were made to work hard for the four wickets to fall with pacer Keon Joseph (2-35) continuing to pick up wickets while left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-108) was unusually expensive.
It was a slow start by the overnight batsmen Kyle Corbin (37) and Hope who resumed on 28 and nine respectively with their team 71-1, leading by 155 runs. Guyana Captain Leon Johnson opted for spin from one end and seam from the other which worked well for a few overs until Hope broke the shackles to score the first boundary of the day off Permaul.
Guyana endured a brief period of sloppiness in the field allowing the two right-handers to add 48 for the second wicket before Permaul broke the partnership, getting Corbin out caught by Johnson.
In-form batsman Shamarh Brooks (26) reached 500 runs this season with a streaky edge which went for four, joining Guyanese Vishaul Singh as the other only man to have scored more than 500 runs as Barbados went to lunch leading by 214 runs.
When play resumed, Joseph picked up two quick wickets when Brooks slashed a delivery to Johnson at first slip. His dismissal was followed by that of Roston Chase (03) who also joined the 500-run club before he played a wild shot and was caught by Assad Fudadin at second slip.
Prior to the dismissal of Chase, Hope pulled Bishoo for back-to-back fours, the last which brought up his 50 from 130 balls. He was given a life when on 60, Joseph spilling a return catch. The 300-run lead came up as tea approached with Hope 14 runs short of his hundred and Carter playing aggressively to take his score into the 40’s with the score 231-4 and a lead of 315.
Both players reached their milestones in the final session of day three with Carter the first, reaching his 50 with three fours and a six from just 66 balls while Hope reached his century from 207 balls, batting for some 308 minutes as they took the lead past 350 and took their current partnership into the hundreds.
The Carter then continued his assault, helping himself to a hundred which was followed by the declaration. The final day’s play will commence at 10:00hrs
Scoreboard
Barbados Pride 1st innings 274 all out (S Brooks 56, K Stoute 56*) Joseph 3-49
Guyana Jaguars 1st innings 190 all out (L Johnson 40) R Chase 5-27
Barbados Pride 2nd innings
K Brathwaite c Johnson
b Permaul 33
K Corbin c Johnson b Permaul 73
S Hope not out 114
S Brooks c Johnson b Joseph 26
R Chase c Fudadin b Joseph 03
J Carter not out 100
Extras: (nb-2, w-2, lb-2, b-1)
Total (4 wickets 93.2 overs) 320
FOW: 1-48, 2-96, 3-142, 4-158
Bowling: Beaton 9.1-0-43-0, Joseph 12.5-1-35-2, Bishoo 20-2-71-0,
Reifer 16-4-39-0, Permaul 30.2-6-108-2, Johnson 5-0-21-0
Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings
R Chandrika not out 23
T Chanderpaul not out 28
Extras (1-lb)
Total (10 wickets remaining) 52
Bowling: Cummins 6-1-14-0, Stoute 6-3-16-0, Greaves 3-1-12-0, Chase
4-17-0, Brathwaite 1-1-0-0
