The Guyana Jaguars have edged closer to victory after Veerasammy Permaul snared his 26th five-wicket haul to leave the Leeward Islands Hurricanes leading by just 23 runs and with three wickets in hand, heading into the final day of the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-day tournament.
Play at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday saw the Jaguars, the defending champions, returning on 36-2 and climbing to 289 all out in 115.5 overs with Vishaul Singh stroking 90. Coming out to bowl thereafter, the Jaguars blew away the Hurricanes, leaving them at 130-7 in 56 overs at close of play on day three.
The day began with the Jaguars already leading by 33 runs with Singh on 68 and Anthony Bramble on 11. The pair batted smartly and rotated the strike well but nine overs into the day, Bramble shuffled down the wicket to Sheno Berridge only to have a thick leading edge that rocketed the ball high into the air, allowing wicketkeeper Devon Thomas enough time to settle under it square of the wicket and send his opposite number on his way for 25 from 54 balls, effectively ending the partnership of 49 runs.
Singh played all around the wickets but was gifted a surprise bounce delivery from off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, and in attempting to pounce on it with the second slip moving into a silly point position, only managed to get a thick edge to Jeremiah Louis at short third man. Singh’s 209-ball stay at the crease earned him 90 runs consisting of nine boundaries.
The lower order was wrapped up shortly with Permaul pushing to cover and kicking off quickly only to see both batsmen at the non-striker’s end to be run out. Motie, playing Cornwall into the hands of Alzarri Joseph for an 18-ball duck, handed the giant spinner his fourth wicket of the innings.
Cornwall could have taken a five-wicket haul had Hurricanes not dropped Keon Joseph twice in successive deliveries, first at short leg, then at first slip, leaving Alzarri Joseph to close off the innings by uprooting Romario Shepherd’s middle stumps. Cornwall was the pick of the bowlers, ending with 4-48.
Rajendra Chandrika suffered a finger injury while fielding and was rushed to the hospital, allowing Keacy Carty to be promoted up the order to open with Montcin Hodge. The pair shared in a 40-run opening stand, with Hodge finding himself lucky after being dropped on 12 by Permaul.
That did not prove too costly as Carty found the leading edge into Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s hands at silly point after trying to work the ball on the on side while Hodge was caught at first slip. They departed for 23 and 15 respectively.
Thomas also departed cheaply after picking out Motie at cover point who executed a low catch diving forward.
Motie was then introduced to the bowling and complemented the destruction left by his fellow Berbician left arm spinner, by bowling Akeem Saunders with his second delivery of his left arm spin to see Hurricanes go to tea at 61-4.
Upon resumption, Permaul accounted for the wicket of Orlando Peters while Shepherd removed Damion Jacobs who played straight into the hands of Trevon Griffith at face height in the gully region.
Permaul diminished Hurricanes’ chances when he trapped the dangerous Cornwall leg before wicket for 27, handing himself yet another five-wicket haul at this level.
Alzarri Joseph and Louis are currently at the crease on 15 and 17 respectively while Permaul picked up 5-49.
