Tagenarine, Johnson notch 50s on Red Force

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Leon Johnson notched half-centuries yesterday as Guyana Jaguars made a solid start against Red Force on day one of their top-of-the-table Regional Four-Day match at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba.

Batting first, leaders Guyana lost their first wicket with the score on 33 when Chanderpaul Hemraj was caught behind by wicketkeeper Amir Jangoo off the bowling of pacer Roshon Primus for 22.

The unrelated Tagenarine, son of legendary West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Johnson combined to nullify the Red Force bowling attack until lunch to to take the visitors to 61 for one. The Guyanese duo accelerated in the second period, taking the reigning champions to 151 for one in a session that saw them garner 90 runs without losing a wicket. At tea, Tagenarine was on 58 off 174 balls with four boundaries, while Johnson was unbeaten on 67 from 133 deliveries with six fours to his name as Guyana sat comfortably on 151 for one.