Three-time defending champions the Guyana Jaguars yesterday completed an eight-wicket win over the Barbados Pride in fifth round action of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional four-day tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Jaguars completed the final day trouncing of Pride courtesy of a last morning hostility from fast bowler Keon Joseph and a solid second-wicket stand of 117 between Tagenarine Chanderpaul and skipper Leon Johnson, both of whom recorded half centuries.
The day began with Pride, resuming on 126 – 7, a lead of 106 and in danger of being skittled out for a paltry score.
However, they resisted stoutly on the back of an 86-run, ninth-wicket partnership between Jonathan Carter and wicketkeeper Mario Rampersaud.
Carter, who went to the close on 14, played some delightful strokes to post his half century before he was dislodged by the hostile Keon Joseph for 53 with the score on 195 – 8.
Joseph, with his tail up, wrapped up the innings by removing the final two wickets in quick time to help oust Pride for 197, for an overall lead of 177.
Rampersaud showed fight and grit in his unbeaten 67-ball, 27.
Joseph ended with 4 – 38 while Keemo Paul, who was a lot less threatening during the morning session, finished with 4 – 63, for a match-haul of 9 – 122.
Jaguars, meanwhile, began their hunt quite cautiously, ending the morning session on 31 without loss with Chandrapaul Hemraj on 16 and his partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul one run less.
The Pride bowlers looked a lot more purposeful with the ball in hand and not surprisingly the visitors struck shortly after the resumption of play with off-spinner Ashley Nurse removing Hemraj (21) with the score on 36 – 1.
His dismissal brought skipper Leon Johnson to the crease to join Chanderpaul and the duo, with another Jaguars victory in sight, and with time at their disposal, weathered an exciting passage of play which saw the Bajans bowling a tidy line.
They took the score past the 50-run mark as Johnson began to up the ante by hammering deliveries from Nurse for boundaries while Chanderpaul also took seamers Kevin Stoute and Justin Greaves for a few himself to take Jaguars to 106 – 1 at tea with Chanderpaul on 43 and Johnson on 32.
They also brought up their 50–run partnership during that time and took the team score from 50 to 100, inside 15 overs.
Johnson began purposefully after the break, dancing into Jomel Warrican and spanking back over his head for two maximums to reach his 50 while Chanderpaul dabbed the same bowler to third man to record his.
The skipper though, was bowled by seamer Keon Harding for a dominating knock of 61, a knock including five fours and two sixes to leave the score on 153 – 2.
Chanderpaul and Vishaul `Cheesy’ Singh (22) then took the defending champions to 181-2 to complete the victory without seemingly breaking a sweat.
Chanderpaul who in this match, completed his third consecutive half-century, remained unbeaten on 62 after dispatching seven fours.
