Host Guyana and the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) were locked in a tight battle for first innings points at the end of the first day of their ninth round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four-day  match at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground yesterday.

It’s celebration time for Christopher Barnwell (airborne), after he had Kyle Corbin (backing camera) caught by Travis Dowlin at slip. The non-striker is Nikolai Parris. (Aubrey Crawford photo)

Replying to the visitor’s first innings score of 254, Guyana found themselves reeling on 24-2 at the close of play with West Indies batsmen Sewnarine Chattergoon and Leon Johnson the not out batsmen on two and one respectively.

Scores to date: CCC 254, Guyana 24-2.

Earlier, the university students won the toss and opted to take first strike on a placid Bourda wicket and fast outfield, but were setback following the loss of skipper Simon Jackson who was caught at the wicket off the lively but expensive Brandon Bess.

The 21-year-old right arm fast bowler conceded 55 runs from his seven overs and it took the bowling of right arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul who in tandem with off spinner Steven Jacobs  and fast bowler Christopher Barnwell helped pull things back for their country.

It was evident that inconsistency by an already depleted bowling attack missing the services of leading wicket taker Devendra Bishoo, aided CCC to get back on track as opener Kyle Corbin and Nikolai Parris added 64 for the second wicket from 11.4 overs.

Anything short by the bowlers was dispatched with disdain with Corbin being the aggressor.

After hitting the first delivery of the match bowled by Bess over mid on for four, the Barbados Under-19 skipper stroked the same bowler elegantly through the covers for four, followed by a drive through extra cover off Barnwell for another of his seven fours struck in his score of 40.