Guyana Jaguars solidified their spot at the top of the West Indies Championships with their fourth consecutive win after they defeated Windward Islands Volcanoes by eight wickets at the Providence National Stadium yesterday.
Playing in front of a decent crowd, West Indies test batsman, Shimron Hetmyer smashed a blistering half-century as the defending champions requiring just 117 runs in their second innings to score an outright win, reached 121-2 in the 19th over.
Volcanoes resuming yesterday’s final day on 167-3 in their second innings after following on, showed their fighting spirit with a century from skipper Kirk Edwards and half century from Denis Smith.
They were eventually all out for 361 from 107.3 overs.
They needed 78 runs to force the Jaguars to bat again and Edwards toiled doggedly against
left-arm spin twins Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul.
He reached his half-century by gently pushing a delivery to short cover and scampering for a single to reach the landmark from a mere 93 balls.
Kavem Hodge was not allowed to settle as Motie forced him to edging behind to Man-of-the-Match, Anthony Bramble, his sixth catch of the match behind the stumps.
Hodge made 12 and his dismissal effectively ended the 64-run stand.
Motie returned in the next over to dismiss Alick Athanze leg before wicket.
The dismissals failed to stop Edwards from marching to his 10th first-class century, hoisting Motie over his head for a six to reach the coveted three figures.
The 34-year-old Barbados-born Edwards was joined by Denis Smith and the pair forged an 83-run stand before Edwards was trapped leg before wicket to Paul for 139, an innings which included 21 fours and two sixes.
Paul troubled the lower order and orchestrated the dismissal of Shermon Lewis who had his off stump uprooted while Ray Jordan played a delivery into the hands of Trevon Griffith diving to his left as Paul secure his maiden 10-wicket match-haul.
Permaul was also effective against the lower order, beating the bat of Josh Thomas on two occasions before finally trapping him leg before wicket.
Denis Smith was not conservative in his shot selection despite the fall of wickets, pummeling Paul for three consecutive boundaries, two of which raced past the bowler’s feet, followed by a four that pierced the covers and into the fence to bring up his maiden half-century.
He was eventually run out, taking on the arm of Motie at cover.
His 67 came from 96 balls and he struck eight boundaries.
Paul ended with match figures of 10-129.
Jaguars lost Griffith, who after carving a four through the gully region, was bowled behind his back for 14.
Hetmyer, after being dropped on 11 by Denis Smith behind the stumps, smashed Thomas and Hodge for consecutive sixes, dispatching them in each of the four stands of the stadium. His innings of 61 from just 29 balls included five sixes eventually came to an end when he was caught on the long on boundary.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 24 adding to his 117 not out in the first innings while Leon Johnson ended the contest with a six off of Hodge.
