Guyana Jaguars, led by Shimron Hetmyer’s blistering hundred and their pace bowlers, yesterday romped to their second victory in as many matches after they destroyed the United States of America (USA) cricket team at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, yesterday in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super50 competition.
USA won the toss and elected to bat with the Jaguars making one change as Clinton Pestano replaced Romario Shepherd.
Jaguars were immediately into their stride with Keemo Paul effecting the breakthrough with the second ball of the innings removing Sunny Sohal while Raymon Reifer had Jaskaran Malhotra caught at cover also without scoring. Reifer, in his second over dismissed skipper Irahim Khaleel for the third duck of the innings to have USA struggling at 10-3 in 3.5 overs.
Ex-West Indian batsman, Xavier Marshall was joined by Timil Patel and together the pair added 60 runs from 88 balls. However, when debutant Pestano dismissed Patel for 16, the innings went into decline.
Roy Silva soon fell for three to veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul who also removed danger man Marshall for 60 while leg spinner Devendra Bishoo got into the act by trapping Usman Rafiq to leave the USA 99-7.
However, Elmore Hutchinson joined Mrunal Patel and the pair resisted the surging Jaguars with an invaluable 89-run stand to see the Americans posting 188/8 from their allotted overs.
Hutchinson fell off the last delivery of the innings to Paul.
Chasing a higher total than expected, Jaguars began their innings in their usually careful manner as openers Chandrapaul Hemraj and Shivnarine Chanderpaul took to the crease. The pair added 19 runs from 38 balls before Hemraj was caught by Silva for seven off Hutchinson.
His dismissal brought Hetmyer to the crease and the left hander began his innings in an uncharacteristic fashion. He took three balls to get off the mark with a single and after 12 balls he had scored on five runs. Hetmyer then shifted gear in the 10th over, clobbering Netravalkar for two fours and a huge six to signal his intention.
The first ball of the 12th over by Netravalkar was struck by Hetmeyer for a four but in that same over Chanderpaul retired hurt after scoring just eight runs.
A pumped Hetmyer, on 24, was then joined by his captain, Leon Johnson, and they took effectively took the match away from the Americans before Hetmeyer was dismissed with victory already assured.
In the 20th over Hetmyer brought up his 50 with a massive six as the Jaguars coasted to 105/1. The 21-year-old Berbician accelerated his strike rate with back-to-back sixes off from delivers by Nothush Kenjige then blasted him for a six and two fours his following over, bringing up the 100-run partnership between him and Johnson.
Hetmyer, not afraid to play the big shots, brought up his 100 in a typically belligerent way, carting a delivery from Timil Patel for a six in the 27th over. He would depart in the next over for 103 from just 79 balls including an intimidating seven sixes and eight fours. His wicket also ended the 118-run partnership between himself and Johnson with Guyana 22 runs away from victory.
Reifer was the new man at the wicket and the pair carefully guided the Jaguars over the line but not before Johnson got to his 50 from 69 balls in the penultimate over of the Jaguars’ innings. Reifer smashed a delivery from Rafiq for a four and the Jaguars had sealed the win. He finished unbeaten on 11.
Jaguars will come up against Leewards Hurricanes tomorrow in their third fixture of the competition.
