By Statistician Charwayne Walker
Anthony Bramble came of age during the just concluded seventh round encounter in the 2017/2018 Regional 4-Day between Guyana Jaguars and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the National Stadium, Providence.
Bramble’s magnificent match deciding innings of 196 not out, the highest score ever by a Guyanese wicket keeper in a Regional First Class tournament, was followed up by five dismissals in the Hurricanes’ second innings of 268.
In the completing the latter feat, Bramble joined the elite club of regional wicket keepers who have scored a century and made five dismissals in one inning of the same match. The membership of this small group includes; Cammie Smith, Barbados vs Jamaica, August 1958, at Sabina Park, Jamaica – 116 & 5 catches, first innings; Jeffrey Dujon, Jamaica vs Windward Islands, February, 1983, at Sabina Park, Jamaica -102 & 5 catches, first innings, and Thelston Payne, Barbados vs Windward Islands, 127 & 5 catches, first innings.
Only five Guyanese wicket keepers have the honour of scoring a Regional First Class century. When Berbice’s wicket keeper Anthony Bramble reached 129 vs the Leeward Islands at Providence Stadium on Friday, he surpassed the late Clifford McWatt, who made 128 against Trinidad in October 1953 at Bourda, the then highest score by a Guyanese wicketkeeper. This was McWatt’s second Regional First Class century against the same opponents. In March 1947, Mc Watt fashioned a flambouyant 123 not out, an innings which failed to save British Guiana from defeat by an innings and 125 runs, versus Trinidad at the Queens Park Oval.
The second Guyanese wicket keeper to score a Regional First Class century was Berbician Robert Milton Pydanna who defied Jamaica with an accomplished 117 not out at Jarrett Park during the 1980 Shell Shield Tournament.
Another Berbician, Vishal Nagamootoo then emulated Pydanna with a commanding century, 115 not out versus West Indies B during the Carib Beer Cup Competition of 2003.
Six years later, DCC’s Derwin Christian brutalized Jamaica’s attack with a belligerent 113 at Providence National Stadium.
For the record, Pydanna is still the only Guyanese to keep wicket in an ODI and Derwin Christian is the only Guyanese to hold the gloves in a T20 International.
Can Bramble emulate Cyril Christiani, Clifford McWatt and Ivor Mendonca and do the honours behind the stumps in a Test Match?
