In overcast conditions, the Guyana Jaguars suffered a shock 98-run loss at the hands of the Rest XI at Enmore Community Centre yesterday.
On the back of half centuries from Vishaul Singh and Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed, Rest XI posted 288-9 in their allotted 50 overs while containing the Cricket West Indies/ Colonial Medical Insurance Regional Super50-bound side to 190 in 42.1 overs.
Skipper of the Jaguars, Leon Johnson said after the match that the team has utilized the warm up matches well and was happy to see the team pushed on both occasions.
Johnson admitted that the unit needs to work on their bowling quickly, explaining that they gave away a lot of extras in both matches and failed to execute to the best of their potential.
Singh, the skipper of the side worked the ball well along the ground on his way to an unbeaten 88. His half century lasted nearly three hours as he faced 102 balls and hitting seven boundaries along the way, most of which were square of the wicket.
The discarded West Indies left-hander forged a 94-run stand for the seventh wicket with Ali-Mohamed who raced to 58 from 39 balls. Ali-Mohamed’s innings was highlighted by his presentation of the face of the bat that allowed him to swat two sixes and seven fours before top edging a return catch to left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer.
Earlier, Trevon Griffith looked set with 18 from 13 balls including a flick for six over 100 meters in length but was undone by a sharp and low return catch to Ronsford Beaton.
Tevin Imlach and Kemol Savory also got starts with 30 and 34 respectively as they shared in a 52-run partnership for the second wicket. Reifer ended with 2-60 while off-spinner, Ramaal Lewis returned 2-36. Jaguars gave away 32 extras in their performance with the ball.
In the chase, Christopher Barnwell who was motivated by the heckling from the small crowd top scored with 41. His innings came from 47 balls and featured three sixes. Lewis also got some batting practice in a composed knock of 39 consisting of three sixes, all of which were down the ground and one four. The duo added 63 for the seventh wicket and was the most successful partnership of the chase.
Chandrapaul Hemraj and Anthony Bramble scored 39 and 34 respectively but no other batsman reached double figures.
Left-arm spinner, Ashmead Nedd returned 4-65 and was supported by Keon Joseph (2-34) and Ali-Mohamed (2-27).
