Despite Jermaine Blackwood’s 81, Veerasammy Permaul’s four for 39 saw Jamaica Scorpions losing their final six wickets for 23 runs to give Guyana Jaguars the advantage at the end of the opening day of the fourth round West Indies Championship match at the National Stadium, Providence.
Scorpions won the toss and elected to bat but consistent wickets saw them only managing 187 in 79.5 overs. Jaguars then closed off the day’s play on 17 without loss after eight overs with Chandrapaul Hemraj on 13 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul on four.
Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Blackwood was the lynchpin to Scorpion’s batting with 10 boundaries in his innings, one of which was carved through backward point off of Permaul to bring up his 37th half century. However, his 185-ball, four-hour stay at the crease was broken when the left-arm spinner got the ball to spin enough off the brown wicket to clip the top of the off stump, the loud noise resonating in the near empty stadium.
After a patient start, when spin was introduced, Jaguars found immediate success with Kevin Sinclair bowling Assad Fudadin from his first delivery while John Campbell, who survived a loud appeal for a leg before wicket decision from Raymon Reifer, in the next over was not fortunate as Scorpions slipped to eight for two.
Blackwood came to the crease and guided his side to 48 for two at lunch alongside Paul Palmer who made 15 before his stumps were broken by Nial Smith, who took two for 50 from 16 overs, four balls after the break.
The 28-year-old right hander was then joined by Nkrumah Bonner and together they dominated the session to see Scorpions going to tea on 117 for three. The pair added 74 during their two-hour long union but once again the bottom-of-the-table Scorpions lost a crucial wicket with Bonner walking after trickling an edge to Bramble off of Christopher Barnwell, who ended with two for 15 from seven overs. He made 29 from 79 deliveries.
Blackwood went on to build a 42-run stand for the fifth wicket with Denis Smith before Permaul started torturing the visitors.
Peat Salmon lasted just four deliveries before a sharp catch from Vishaul Singh capped off a forgettable debut as Permaul struck twice in the over with the aggressive Smith, who made a 42-ball 22, the next to go. Smith’s 47-minute stay at the crease was highlighted by one four and two sixes, both of which were struck off of Sinclair over the bowler’s head and through cover respectively.
The match resumes at 09:30 hours today.
