In front of around 200 cricket lovers, the Guyana Jaguars were dismissed for 196 just after tea but fought back to leave the Leeward Islands Hurricanes 57-3 at stumps on day one in the fifth round of the West Indies Regional Four-Day Championships at Providence yesterday.
During the Jaguars’ innings that spanned 67.5 overs, Christopher Barnwell showed good temperament with a battling 58. The 32-year-old faced 83 deliveries, 11 of which were dispatched to the boundary ropes. The all-rounder provided the backbone for a rebuilding partnership of 46 for the third wicket with his skipper, Leon Johnson.
Apart from being dropped on six on a difficult return catch to Sheno Berridge, Johnson looked steady after coming to the crease at the fall of Trevon Griffith who drove straight down the throat of Hurricanes’ captain Kieran Powell at short cover, forging a 63-run stand with Tagenarine Chanderpaul. The pair looked to up the tempo, bringing up the team’s 50 in the 18th over but Chanderpaul was then caught at first slip by Powell for 22.
Johnson eased his aggressive shots after he had clobbered seven fours and a lone six which was hooked off of Berridge, to face 119 balls. He scored 44 before being given leg before wicket to Orlando Peters.
Off-spinner, Rahkeem Cornwall then jolted the middle order beginning with the wicket of Anthony Bramble who attempted to sweep only to be given out leg before wicket for 12 and then Romario Shepherd for just one.
Coming off the mark with a six, Sherfane Rutherford was short of his crease to be run out while 33-year-old leg break bowler, Damion Jacobs accounted for the wickets of Clinton Pestano and Veerasammy Permaul in the 65th over.
Keemo Paul looked settled with three boundaries and a six over mid wicket off of Cornwall but was eventually undone by the same bowler for 32 from 41 balls. Cornwall ended with 4-70 and was supported by Jacobs 
with 3-15.
When the Hurricanes opened their first innings, Powell was struck in front of the stumps to depart leg before wicket to Pestano while Montcin Hodge was snatched out of the air by Devendra Bishoo off the bowling of Keemo Paul. Keacy Carty was caught by Griffith running from first slip to short fine leg.
Andre Saunders and Terrence Warde are at the crease on 15 and seven respectively, with Hurricanes trailing by 139 in the first innings.
The action continues today at 09.30 hrs.
