THANKS to an unbroken 78-run seventh-wicket partnership between Anthony Bramble and vice-captain Vishaul Singh, hosts Guyana Jaguars wrested control at the end of the first day of their ninth-round West Indies Cricket Board/Professional Cricket League four-day encounter against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.The Guyanese, who lead the points table with 123 points, opted to bat first and reached 264 for 6, thanks to an unbeaten 51 from Bramble, 51 from Rajendra Chandrika, 49 from Leon Johnson, an unbeaten 46 from Singh and 44 from Assad Fudadin.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan (3 for 55) and Jason Mohammed’s 2 for 44 threatened to take the initiative from the home team, who will firmly secure their first regional title in 17 years if they manage to complete an outright win in this fixture.
The hosts, who entered the contest heading the points table in comparison to their opponents’ 51, won the toss and opted to bat first. Their openers Fudadin and Chandrika scored 74 from 20.3 overs batting.
Chandrika opened his account with a streaky four through the slip cordon in the first over off Shannon Gabriel, repeated the shot in the fifth over before he was given a life by Jason Mohammed off Marlon Richards when on 15, with Guyana Jaguars 18 without loss.
He said thanks by hitting Richards for two fours in his next over to race to 37 while Guyana reached 50 without loss, with Fudadin on 8 and when Yannick Ottley replaced Richards at the Media Centre End, he was struck for two fours in his first over by Fudadin.
Chandrika got to his fifth half-century for this season, with an authoritative straight drive back past Ryad Emrit for his ninth four, batting for 97 minutes and facing 69 balls, before he turned Emrit straight into the waiting hands of Bryan Charles at backward square, at 74 for 1 in the 21st over.
Skipper Leon Johnson replaced Chandrika and quickly got into his stride with two fours off Yannick Ottley, while Fudadin caressed Emrit through the cover region for his fourth boundary, as the Jaguars went back into their den for lunch at 94 for 1 off 27 overs, with Fudadin on 22 and Johnson 13.
After lunch, Guyana posted their 100 from 27.3 overs, after seeing Johnson hit Mohammed for 6, 4, 4 in the first over after the break, before he eased graciously into the 40s with his second six off Imran Khan, dominating the second-wicket partnership with Fudadin, which yielded 59 runs.
Khan had Johnson caught off the next delivery after the six by Kjorn Ottley at forward short leg for 49 (69 balls, 9×4, 2×6) at 133 for 2 and removed Narsingh Deonarine without scoring, at the same score in his next over.
Fudadin opened his shoulders to hit Khan back over his head for 6, before he pushed one back to Mohammed when on 44 (147b, 6×4, 1×6) at 165 for 4, while wicketkeeper Steven Ketwaroo missed a stumping chance offered by Shivnarine Chanderpaul before he had scored off Jason Mohamed without any addition to the score.
Despite the let-off, Chanderpaul was dismissed lbw to Mohamed for 2, at 167 for 5, while the Jaguars went to tea at 186 for 6, losing Christopher Barnwell 14 (2×4) who was lbw to Khan one ball before the break, taken with Singh on 19.
After the break, Bramble joined Singh and together they repaired the damage done by the Red Force, who took the second new ball with Jaguars 231 for 6, with Singh on 38 and Bramble 26, the latter recording two fours off Gabriel to post the 250 in the 85th over.
Bramble got his second half-century for this season, when he drove Emrit through extra cover off the 84th ball he faced while batting for 104 minutes, during which time he struck six fours and at the close of play, the Jaguars had reached 264 for six.
