A pulsating spell of fast bowling by Ronsford Beaton left Tagnarine Chanderpaul’s XI two wickets away from an outright win over Leon Johnson’s XI after rain ended play on day three of the Guyana Harpy Eagles four-day practice match at the Providence National Stadium yesterday.
Resuming on 158-5, Chanderpaul’s XI converted their overnight score to 346 all out in 98.4 overs with Chanderpaul taking his overnight 139 to 163.
Chanderpaul’s innings lasted 278 balls and he spent in excess of six hours at the crease, striking 22 boundaries including one six before edging a delivery down the leg side into the hands of Tevin Imlach behind the stumps off of Demetri Cameron.
Chanderpaul added 48 runs for the sixth wicket with Kevin Sinclair who struck five fours and a six.
After rain halted play for 15 minutes, the first delivery after the resumption from Clinton Pestano was deposited into the hands of Sylus Tyndall at deep fine leg to end his 47-ball innings of 33.
Gudakesh Motie raced to 31 from 42 balls before feathering a catch off Jones to Imlach.
Jones also accounted for Beaton to signal lunch and the end of the innings. Jones ended with 3-35 while Junior Sinclair took 2-49.
Chasing 263 Johnson’s XI lost Chanderpaul Hemraj bowled by Beaton offering no shot for four.
Beaton subsequently worked his way through the order to end with 5-60. Two of the batsmen Keemo Paul (21) and Akshaya Persaud (05) were beaten for pace while he also removed Junior Sinclair (01) and Vishaul Singh (09) with successive deliveries.
With wickets tumbling at the other end opener Imlach played solidly to score 55 from 108 balls, hitting six boundaries, before smacking a long hop from leggie, Steven Sankar straight to Mavindra Dindyal at mid-wicket.
Imlach and Johnson added 47 runs before the latter was trapped leg before wicket to Junior Sinclair for 18.
Pestano is currently at the crease on 34 not out off of 20 balls, already hitting three fours and three sixes. He was joined by Anthony Bramble and the pair put on 44 runs for the eighth wicket before Bramble was bowled by Motie for a 29-ball 20.
Adams joined Pestano at the crease for just 10 minutes before rain closed off the day. The final day’s play resumes at 09.30 hours.
