Led by Devendra Bishoo’s seven-wicket haul, the Guyana Jaguars yesterday defeated the Leeward Islands by an innings and 10-runs inside three days of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Regional 4-day first round match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Deonarine, who was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten century in Guyana’s only innings, his 10th first-class ton in the first innings to set up his team’s huge total also chipped in with the ball to end with 1-29 and was rewarded for his performances. The discarded West Indies spinner Bishoo who snared 3-30 in the first innings returned to bag 4-57, ended with figures of 7-87 to help set up a convincing win for the Jaguars who knocked over the Leewards for 94 and 239 in their first and second innings respectively after the visitors failed to conquer the mammoth 343 set by the Jaguars.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul bagged a match haul of 5-56 after snaring 3-18 in the first innings and picking up 2-38 in the second while pacer Ronsford Beaton set the tempo with his three wickets in the first innings, all-rounders Raymon Reifer (2-48) and Chris Barnwell’s (1-22) weighed in with blows of their own.
Leewards vice-captain Jamar Hamilton toiled for his grueling top-score of 74 which featured 11 fours and was supported by fast-bowler Gavin Tonge (49) who cracked five fours and two sixes while Orlando Peters (36), Austin Richards Jr (24) and skipper Devon Thomas (23) failed to carry on as their team went down in 79.4 overs.
Resuming their innings at four without loss after they were routed for a measly 94 in their first innings, Leewards again got off to a shaky start in their pursuit of 245 when Reifer landed two blows dismissing both openers. The Bajan all-rounder trapped both overnight batsmen Lyndell Richardson (0) and Richards Jr (24) LBW, as he used the crease and conditions to his likeness.
Akeem Saunders (16) and Peters both survived poor dropped chances in the slip and gully areas and cashed in on the opportunities to add a useful 38-run partnership. After some defiance by the duo, Bishoo broke the partnership when he had Saunders expertly stumped by wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble minutes before the lunch break, leaving the visitors 74-3 still facing a deficit of 171.
With the possibility of a huge first round win in close sight, the Jaguars then stalked their prey during the session after tea which yielded two wickets and took them two steps closer to a thumping victory. Peters, who was looking solid, was soon foxed by Permaul and was given out LBW. Thomas battled hard for his 23 and managed four good looking boundaries but he also lost his wicket to the left-arm spinner who him had pinned leg-before.
Jacques Taylor was sent packing for a nine-ball duck after Deonarine snuck one through his gate, knocking his stumps over and leaving the score at 116-8. The vice-skipper Hamilton and new man Tonge were then faced with an uphill task as they sought to avoid a possible loss in three days.
The two right-handers batted with guts and were able to secure a few boundaries as they launched a mini counter-attack, taking the score to 172-6 at the tea break. Resuming on 46, Hamilton brought up his 50 a few delivers after the tea interval and along with Tonge, forged a valiant partnership which produced 102 runs before the latter, who was looking better than the specialist batsmen, was caught by Barnwell off of Bishoo.
Yannick Leonard (1), was given out LBW by Bishoo who sought to wrap up proceedings quickly. Hamilton found himself in the 70’s but was running out of partners and soon suffered the same fate as his teammates as he was bowled by Barnwell off an inside edge.
With the two last batsmen at the crease Bishoo wasted no time in removing fast-bowler Kelbert Walters who was caught by Assad Fudadin at forward short-leg for a duck as the Leewards were shot down inside four days.
The Jaguars will now gear up for their second match at home which begins this Friday against the formidable Windwards.
Scorecard
Leewards 2nd innings
A Richards Jr lbw b Reifer 24
L Richardson lbw b Reifer 0
A Saunders c wkp Bramble b Permaul 16
O Peters lbw b Permaul 36
D Thomas lbw b Permaul 23
J Hamilton b Barnwell 74
J Taylor b Deonarine 0
G Tonge c Barnwell b Bishoo 49
Y Leonard lbw b Bishoo
A Martin not out 5
K Walters c Fudadin b Bishoo 0
Total: (239 10 wickets 79.4 overs)
Extras: (w-1, nb-3, b-4, lb-3)
FOW: 1-4, 2-31, 3-69, 4-98, 5-109, 6-118,7-220, 8-226, 9-234, 10-239
Bowling: Permaul 22-12-38-2, Reifer 10-3-48-2, Beaton 10-3-28-0, Barnwell 9-1-22-1, Bishoo 23.4-5-57-4 and Deonarine 5-0-29-1
