Shimron Hetmyer cracked his maiden first-class ton while fifties from Leon Johnson and Rajendra Chandrika propelled the Guyana Jaguars to an imposing 297-4 on the opening day against the Jamaica Scorpions, as the final round in the 2015/16 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-Day tournament got underway yesterday.
Played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, the victorious West Indies Under-19 World Cup Captain mauled the visitors during his 135-ball 107, hammering 15 crisp fours and a six. West Indies Test opener Rajendra Chandrika played an elegant knock of 76 from 215 balls with 13 fours while the competition’s leading run-scorer, Captain Leon
Johnson was unbeaten on 58, his 28th first class fifty.
Johnson and night-watchman Devendra Bishoo (01*) will resume their innings today.
Bowling for the visitors, spinner Damion Jacobs (2-50) and West Indies player Jermaine Blackwood (1-8), Gavon Brown (1-56) were the only operators with the ball to make inroads Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Guyana benefited from six dropped catches and a missed run out opportunity.
The Jamaicans were sloppy in field allowing the openers Chandrika and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (21) to benefit from their chances and add 80 for the first wicket. Chanderpaul was dropped on 4 and 7 while the West Indies Test opener was given a life on 22 when Scorpions wicket-keeper Aldaine Thomas failed to hold onto a catch.
After a shaky start, the two batsmen overcame their nerves to play a bit more constructive than they did earlier. Chandrika was elegant most of his innings and got to fifty after some 114 minutes in the middle with nine boundaries as Guyana took their score to 73-0 from 30 overs at lunch.
The first hour after lunch produced 53 runs for Guyana who lost their first wicket shortly after the resumption of play when Jacobs had Chanderpaul trapped LBW. West Indies Under-19 skipper Hetymeyer came out at number three to partner Chandrika who was settling nicely after reaching his fifty.
Chandrika looked on course to three figures but threw it away when he provided Jacobs with a simple caught and bowled opportunity which was taken by the spinner, ending the right-hander’s 163-minute stay at the crease.
At 157-2, Johnson then added 87 for the third wicket with Hetmyer who was playing like the champion he is, pouncing on anything short or loose to reach his 50 of 66 balls before continuing his dominance as he surged into the nineties. Batting on 98, the 18 year-old scampered for three runs to take his score into triple figures, celebrating his milestone with much elation.
The young century maker’s reign came to an end when Blackwood comprehensively knocked over the left-hander, leaving Guyana dominantly placed on 243. Johnson continued his prolific scoring, taking his score into the 30’s.
Vishaul Singh (22) survived another failed catch attempt, this time from John Campbell at slip but a beautiful delivery from Brown saw the off-stump of the left-hander being disturbed. Night-watchman Bishoo joined his Captain who brought up his fifty minutes before stumps.
Scoreboard
Guyana Jaguars 1st innings
R Chandrika c&b Jacobs 76
T Chanderpaul b lbw Jacobs 21
S Hetmyer b Blackwood 107
L Johnson not out 58
V Singh b Brown 22
D Bishoo not out 01
Total: (4 wickets 93 overs) 297
Extras: (1-w, 8-nb, 1-b 2-lb)
FOW: 1-80, 2-156, 3-243, 4-286
Bowling: Bowling: Dawes 9-1-22-0, Brown 15-2-58-1, Thomas12-3-30-,
Jacobs 26-6-63-2, Bulli 10-1-52-0, McCarthy 3-0-11-, Campbell
16-0-50-0, Blackwood 2-0-8-1
