Guyana Jaguars’ seamers bundled out Barbados Pride for 174, before closing the opening day at Providence on 19 for two yesterday.
Pride won the toss in the eighth round West Indies Championship top-of-the-table clash and opted to bat under glorious sunshine. However, when the sun disappeared and the stadium lights came on, the tenebrous conditions made it difficult for them to bat. They lasted 74.1 overs.
Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite survived an early dropped catch, the first of four for the night by the Jaguars and persisted in the face of two early wickets to carry his side to 63 for two at lunch.
The after lunch session began the spiral for Pride with the 44-run partnership between Brathwaite and Jonathan Carter ending at the introduction of off-spin. Five balls into the session, Kevin Sinclair drew out Carter for a sharp stumping from Anthony Bramble that sent the left-hander on his way for a 69-ball 27.
Shane Dowrich, who began his innings nervously, was dropped twice but was forced to retire on 25 after being hit in the head by a bouncer from Romario Shepherd in the 43rd over. Dowrich faced 33 balls and carved five boundaries.
Shortly after, Brathwaite, who toiled for three hours and 20 minutes, was rapped on the pads by Raymon Reifer for a leg before wicket decision, two runs short of his half century. The tournament’s leading run getter, Kyle Mayers was also trapped leg before wicket to Keemo Paul to see the Bajans slip to 134 for five.
However, the islanders were lucky with West Indies Test captain Jason Holder getting a life on nine after being dropped at slip off of Reifer, two minutes before the supper break. They ended the session on 144 for five. But Reifer got his revenge as he castled the test skipper for 11, two overs after the break. Paul ended with three for 62 while Shepherd and Reifer had two scalps each for 15 and 18 runs respectively. With 13 overs remaining in the day’s play, the hosts lost two wickets to end in a spot of bother. Tagenarine Chanderpaul was dismissed caught behind for a 26-ball six off of Kemar Roach while Jason Holder broke the edge of Sinclair that flew to Mayers at third slip for three. Leon Johnson is yet to score while Shimron Hetmyer is on 10.
Play resumes at 14.00 hours today.
