Two-time defending champions the Guyana Jaguars ended day one of their ninth-round clash against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Providence National Stadium on 204 for two with Assad Fudadin reaching his sixth first-class century, unbeaten on 113 after all-rounder Keemo Paul, playing in only his second first-class match, took career bowling figures of 6 for 28 to dismiss the Volcanoes for 95 in 28.1 overs.
At the close of play the Guyana Jaguars led by 109 runs on first innings.
Volcanoes, earlier in the day, won the toss and elected to bat but were soon ruing that decision after losing the experienced Devon Smith without scoring off the second ball of the match when he edged a delivery from Romario Shepard to a waiting Leon Johnson in the slip cordon to leave the Windward Islands in early trouble at none for one.
The Berbician soon struck again by removing Tyrone Theophile for one in the third over to instigate a daunting batting collapse. It was 21-year-old Keemo Paul, however, who caused the Windward Islands batsmen much trouble as he used the overcast conditions beautifully, getting the ball to swing both ways to take the next four wickets in quick succession to leave the Islanders tottering at 29 for 6.
Volcanoes, however, ended the first session on 75 for 7 with Shane Shillingford on 21 and Larry Edwards on two. Moments earlier, Skipper and top scorer Sunil Ambris (29) was dismissed by the ruthless Paul to end a 42-run, seventh-wicket stand for the visitors who showed little application or fight against the Guyanese seam attack.
They were eventually bundled out for 95 in the 29th over, 18 minutes after the lunch break with Paul finishing with career-best figures of 6 for 28, Shepherd 2 for 17 while off-spinner Steven Jacobs claimed one for five to end a clinical bowling effort by the home side.
Guyana, in their first innings reply coasted to 204 for 2 at the end of the first day’s play on the back of a 107-run partnership between openers Fudadin and Rajendra Chandrika who was dismissed for 35 which lasted 65 deliveries. His innings included five fours and the opening partnership was dominated by an aggressive Fudadin who only slowed up when he neared his century.
The two had taken the score to 92 without loss at tea break with Fudadin on 60 and the Chandrika on 23. The latter, however, was dismissed shortly after the break when he edged left-arm-seamer Delorn Johnson behind with the score on 107 – 1 in the 25th over.
Chandrika’s demise brought the Chandrapaul Hemraj to the crease, who last played a first-class match in 2014 and he too dominated a tired looking Windwards bowling attack while sharing in a 92-run, second-wicket partnership with Fudadin to further add to Windward’s woes. Hemraj (54), who started shakily against the seamers, grew in confidence and looked to attack the spinners as he brought up his maiden first-class half-century with his previous highest being 37. His 50 came in 97 balls with five fours and two sixes in 107 minutes. His knock, however, ended 15 minutes before the day’s play ended with Guyana on 199 for 2 when he was caught behind off the bowling of experienced off-spinner Shillingford.
Fudadin and night watchman Gudakesh Motie (2*) saw Guyana to the close of play on day one 204 – 2 with a lead of 109 heading into today’s second day. Johnson (1-23) and Shillingford (1-54) were the wicket takers for the Volcanoes.
