Guyana facing long road back against Windwards

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent,  CMC – Guyana were facing a tall order to save their third round match in the Regional Four-Day Championship, after conceding first innings points to Windward Islands and then losing two quick second innings wickets late on the second day here yesterday.

Trailing by 125 runs on first innings, Guyana finished the day on 49 for two, still requiring a further 76 runs heading into the third day on Friday, to make the Windwards bat again. They were rocked by discarded West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford who took the two wickets to fall, to finish with two for nine from his nine overs.

He prised out Rajindra Chandrika for eight at 25 for one with the first ball of his spell and then also accounted for Sewnarine Chattergoon, caught at the wicket off a thin edge at 35 for two. However, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of veteran West Indies left-hander, Shiv Chanderpaul, saw Guyana to the safety of the close with 29 not out.

Earlier, the Windwards were dismissed for 276 after resuming the day at Arnos Vale on 123 for four. While no batsman cashed in with a big score, captain Liam Sebastien made 35, wicketkeeper Lyndon James got 31 while Kenroy Peters weighed in with 27.

Out-of-favour West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo finished with five for 67 while Leon Johnson picked up two for 18.

Sebastien and Peters converted their fifth wicket stand into a half-century partnership before both were removed in quick succession, to leave the Windwards on 192 for six.

There was no collapse, however, as James combined with Dalton Polius (24) to add a further 57 for the seventh wicket and deny Guyana any immediate comeback.