Half centuries from Chandrapaul Hemraj and Robin Bacchus steadied the Chris Barnwell XI innings at the end of day one against Vishaul Singh XI, in the Guyana Jaguars four-day practice match which commenced yesterday at the Everest Ground.
The 23-year-old Hemraj hit five fours and four sixes in his top-score of 65 while opener Bacchus nailed six boundaries during his knock of 51 to help propel the Barnwell XI to 273-7 from 86 overs heading into day two.
Barnwell and former National youth batsman Seon Hetmyer are the overnight batsmen.
Singh’s XI bowling was led by left-arm spinner Anthony Adams who picked up three wickets and left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer who had two.
Fast-bowlers Raun Johnson and Clinton Pestano ended with a wicket each.
Reifer captured the first wicket when he had opener Kandasammy Surujnarine (08) out caught by West Indies Test opener Rajendra Chandrika to leave to score 17-1.
Barnwell XI’s score quickly became 20-2 when the pugnacious Kevon Boodie was caught by wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble for a duck of Johnson shortly after.
Bacchus was watchful after the two early dismissals after joining forces with West Indies Under-19 wicket-keeper/batsman Tevin Imlach who smacked a four and a six in his score of 25 before succumbing to Adams.
Not allowing the innings to slip further into the abyss, the pair of left-handers; Bacchus and Hemraj launched a counter-attack as they helped raise their team’s 100.
Both batsmen have been in solid touch over the past few months and showed their class yesterday with an array of strokes which helped both players to reach their respective half-centuries and bail their side out of trouble.
Shortly after reaching his mini milestone, Bacchus was caught off the bowling of Adams while Hemraj, who was looking set for another three figure score, had his stumps cleaned up by Pestano.
With their total ticking along nicely despite the fall of wickets, Barnwell and National U19 batsman Bhaskar Yadram dug in to help raise the team’s 200 before Reifer accounted for the wicket of the latter who had accumulated some four boundaries during his innings.
Adams then continued to work his magic and was rewarded with the big wicket of Johnathan Foo who departed for 15. Hetmyer and Barnwell then saw off the remaining overs and kept things intact at towards stumps.
Day two’s action resumes today at 9:30hrs.
