Guyana hold slight edge over Red Force

AN ASTONISHING 20 wickets fell at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair yesterday, in the opening day of the West Indies Four-Day Championship sixth round match between hosts TT Red Force and defending champs Guyana Jaguars.

The Red Force, who were sent into bat by Jaguars’ captain Leon Johnson, were bundled out for 108, midway into the second session, with Tion Webster topscoring with 19. Pacers Keemo Paul and Clinton Pestano each took three wickets, for 26 and 37 runs respectively.

However, the Guyana Jaguars relied almost exclusively on a stroke-filled 66 not out from Paul (36 balls, 10 fours, three sixes) as they replied with 150. Veteran leg-spinner Imran Khan got 3/22 for the Red Force.

Batting again, Jeremy Solozano and Joshua Da Silva finished unbeaten on eight and four respectively as the Red Force reached 13/0 in their second innings.

In their first knock, the Red Force lost the recalled Da Silva for a duck, followed by Solozano (eight) and captain Denesh Ramdin (duck) as they were reeling at 22/3 within the first hour.

Wickets continued to fall as Webster, Jason Mohammed (17), Imran Khan (17) and Yannic Cariah (12) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

Paul and Pestano got useful support from Raymon Reifer (2/20) and Romario Shepherd (2/23).

Ex-WI fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, back on the regional first-class circuit for the first time in six years, removed left-handed openers Chanderpaul Hemraj (22) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (13) via the leg-before route.

The Guyana Jaguars were tottering on 44/5 after Vishaul Singh (four), Johnson (three) and Anthony Bramble (duck) fell in quick succession, early in the final session.

When Reifer slashed one from pacer Odean Smith to Ramdin behind the stumps, it seemed likely that the Red Force would gain a crucial first innings lead.

But Paul had other ideas with a bold counter-attack including three successive sixes straight back past leg-spinner Khan, to reach his fifty.

Khan and Smith wrapped up the tail to leave Guyana Jaguars with a lead of 42. Red Force openers Solozano and Da Silva reduced the deficit to 29 when stumps were drawn.

Scoreboard

TT RED FORCE vs GUYANA JAGUARS

TT Red Force 1st inns:

J Solozano LBW b Shepherd*8

J Da Silva c Bramble b Paul*0

T Webster LBW b Reifer*19

D Ramdin b Shepherd*0

J Mohammed LBW b Pestano*17

Y Cariah c Bramble b Pestano*12

I Khan b Paul*17

O Smith c Bramble b Paul*8

B Charles not out*7

A Phillip c Permaul b Reifer*9

R Rampaul c Shepherd b Pestano*5

EXTRAS (B1, LB1, W1, NB3)*6

Total*108

Fall of wickets: 6; 16; 22; 46; 46; 69; 79; 87; 100; 108.

BOWLING: Shepherd 11-6-23-2 (W1); Paul 10-2-26-3 (NB2); Reifer 9-3-20-2 (NB1); Pestano 8.4-1-37-3.

Guyana Jaguars 1st inns:

T Chanderpaul LBW b Rampaul*13

C Hemraj LBW b Rampaul*22

L Johnson c Mohammed b Phillip*3

V Singh run out (Phillip)*4

R Reifer c Ramdin b Smith*16

A Bramble LBW b Phillip*0

R Shepherd LBW b Khan*23

K Paul not out*66

C Pestano b Khan*0

V Permaul c Ramdin b Smith*1

G Motie c Charles b Khan*0

EXTRAS (LB2)*2

Total*150

Fall of wickets: 31; 36; 40; 44; 44; 76; 114; 114; 117; 150.

BOWLING: Rampaul 11-1-34-2; Phillip 11-2-44-2; Smith 7-1-48-2; Khan 2.4-0-22-3.

TT Red Force 2nd inns:

J Solozano not out*8

J Da Silva not out*4

EXTRAS (NB1)*1

Total for no wicket*13

Still to bat: T Webster, D Ramdin, J Mohammed, Y Cariah, I Khan, O Smith, B Charles, A Phillip, R Rampaul.

BOWLING: Shepherd 2-0-7-0; Paul 2-1-5-0 (NB1); Permaul 2-2-0-0; Motie 2-1-1-0.