TAROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) – Three-time reigning champions, Guyana Jaguars, dominated Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to leave the hosts on the ropes, as they closed in on a convincing victory on day three of their day/night Regional four-day match here Saturday.
Jaguars twice scythed through the Red Force batting line-up, bundling them out for a paltry 120 in the first innings and before leaving them hanging by a string 106 for six in their second innings – still 258 runs adrift of an innings defeat in the fourth round encounter at the Brian Lara Stadium.
Things could have been worse for Red Force were it not for a defiant, unbroken seventh wicket stand of 44 between Daniel St Clair, unbeaten on 26, and Imran Khan, not out on 20, late in the final session.
The spinners had earlier done the trick for Jaguars as left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul (4-43) and Gudakesh Motie (4-46) shared eight wickets as Red Force collapsed from 66 without loss to lose their last 10 wickets for just 54 runs.
Fast bowler Keon Joseph supported with two for 12 from 10 miserly overs.
Left-handed opener Amir Jangoo top-scored with 39, Roshon Primus got 30 while opener Kyle Hope chipped in with 25.
Jangoo, unbeaten on 32 overnight, added just seven and it was his dismissal which triggered a slide that saw five wickets perish for 17 runs, to leave Red Force tottering on 83 for five.
Primus countered, striking four fours and a six in a 48-ball knock while adding 24 for the sixth with captain Denesh Ramdin (3).
However, Motie accounted for both with a single run added as five wickets fell for 13 runs.
Leading by an imposing 364 runs, Jaguars once again crippled the Red Force innings, spearheaded by seamer Keemo Paul who snatched four for 17 while Permaul collected two for 31.
Test batsman Hope fell cheaply in the fourth over for five to Permaul who shared the new ball with Joseph, as the home side lost their first wicket in the fourth over with five on the board.
Jangoo (19) and Yannic Cariah (14) put on 34 in a positive stand for the second wicket which eased the pressure on the Red Force innings.
But once again, one wicket lead to others as Cariah’s demise – caught at the wicket off Paul – led to yet another slide where five wickets went down for 23 runs.
St Clair, who has so far faced 69 deliveries and struck four boundaries, then found an ally in Imran Khan to keep Red Force from defeat inside three days.