The Guyana Jaguars closed the first day of the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-Day Championship with an 86-run lead over the Barbados Pride at the Providence Stadium yesterday. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first with the sun in all its glory, but were soon shell-shocked after being dismissed for a paltry 76 in 29.1 overs while the hosts closed on 162-7 from 60 overs.
Barbados-born Raymon Reifer rocked the Pride with a blistering 5-20 spell from 10 overs. The left hand seamer removed both openers via leg before wicket while clipping the bails of Jonathan Carter to leave Barbados reeling at 23-4. Aaron Jones became Reifer’s fourth victim, steering a fuller ball into the hands of debutant, Ramaal Lewis at third slip immediately after cutting him for a four to point. Marquino Mindley was caught at point to hand Reifer his sixth five-wicket haul.
Fellow seamer, Christopher Barnwell (2-26) also struck twice in quick succession, removing Shamar Springer (08) and Tevyn Walcott (08) who both edged to Anthony Bramble behind the stumps.
Only Chaim Holder looked composed with a top score of 22 consisting of 3 boundaries while Rashidi Boucher (17) struck 4 boundaries and was the only other batsman to reach double figures before Veerasammy Permaul ended the innings with his first ball of the match that bowled Holder and sent them off to lunch.
When play resumed, Chandrapaul Hemraj was the first to go with his stumps scattered by Miguel Cummins for just 9. However, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (19) and Vishaul Singh (33) forged a 51-run partnership for the second wicket. The two left handers stroked 2 and 4 fours respectively. Chanderpaul edged his 99th delivery to the Walcott while Singh followed soon after in a similar fashion off of the same bowler, Jonathan Carter, from his 72nd delivery. Leon Johnson managed just one as Jaguars stumbled to 76-5 in the 34th over.
Bramble, despite being dropped on 17 at first slip provided some stability and showed his aggression by hitting 3 of his 5 boundaries off of Cummins in one over before he was given leg before wicket to Mindley for 23.
Reifer, 27, anchored the innings to see him closing the day on 33 not out from 76 balls, hitting 5 boundaries along the way. He shared in a 36-run partnership with Sherfane Rutherford (15) who was dismissed by a brilliant left handed catch from Carter at first slip.
At the other end Romario Shepherd remained on seven. Play resumes today at 10:00 hrs.
