Half-centuries from Chandrapaul Hemraj and wicketkeeper-batsman Anthony Bramble led the Guyana Jaguars to 258 – 8 against the Jamaica Scorpions at stumps on the opening day of the first-round action in the Cricket West Indies (CWI), Professional four – day league at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
At one stage, Guyana was precariously perched at 150 for 6, but recovered, thanks to a vital seventh wicket partnership of 83 between Bramble and young Sherfane Rutherford
Earlier, Scorpions skipper Paul Palmer had inserted the hosts after winning the toss and found success with the score on 38 when former Test opener Rajendra Chandrika (25) was removed by Derval Green.
Hemraj then joined forces with Tagenarine Chanderpaul and took the score 51 in the 25th over before the latter was dismissed for a dogged 14 which came off 77 deliveries.
Hemraj, however, eased a couple of boundaries and along with skipper Leon Johnson, formed a 45-run partnership before Johnson, who stroked four boundaries, was removed by Damani Sewell with the score on 96.
The Jaguars then slipped into a bit of trouble when Dennis Bulli who accounted for Chanderpaul’s dismissal, snared his second scalp of the day by bowling West Indies Under – 19 batsman Bashkar Yadram, who fell without scoring, leaving the score on 101 for 4.
Hemraj, all the while, continued to grow in confidence and dispatched the odd boundary while on his way to his second fifty at the regional first-class level. He found a reliable ally in wicketkeeper Bramble, as the pair added 32, during which time, Hemraj brought up his fifty before falling to Sewell. His innings of 60, his highest first-class score, included seven boundaries and one maximum, and spanned 102 deliveries.
Scorpions, stung again, a short while later, as Green removed Keemo Paul (12) with the score on 150, as the hosts found themselves in a bit of a wobble, with six wickets down.
Bramble and the talented Sherfane Rutherford then put together their crucial seventh-wicket partnershippulling the three-time defending champions out trouble. The stand ended when Bramble fell for 62, after lacing six boundaries, as Guyana slumped to 233 for seven.
Rutherford disappointingly fell 2.1 overs shy of the day’s play, five short of his maiden fifty at this level. Like Bramble, his knock was decorated with six boundaries.
Jaguars were taken to the close by Romario Shepherd and vice-captain Veerasammy Permaul, as Guyana reached 258 – 8 from the day’s allocated 90 overs.
Sewell finished with 3 for 69, the most successful bowler for the Scorpions, while Bulli and Green picked up two wickets apiece.
Play resumes today at 9:30 hours.
