KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Unorthodox left-arm spinner Totaram Bishun grabbed three wickets for eight runs from nine overs to lead a Guyana fight-back against hosts Jamaica in their TCL Group West Indies Under-19 Challenge match yesterday.
Bishun’s bowling left Jamaica treading the proverbial water on 67 for four, replying to Guyana’s first innings total of 160 on the opening day of their second round match at Sabina Park.
Jamaica were soon 30 for one, when Ronsford Beaton, who bowled with genuine pace, trapped Brian Clarke lbw for six.
But Bishun swung the match, when John Campbell, who was just beginning to look ominous, was caught at mid-off for 17 recklessly hitting the spinner’s first ball to leave Jamaica on 44 for two.
Bishun then added the scalps of Ramon Senior and Garth Garvey – both for one – as Guyana tightened their grip.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Patrick Harty snatched four for 52 from 16.3 overs for Jamaica on a slow pitch and heavy outfield, after Guyana were asked to bat in overcast conditions.
The Jamaicans had success, when Herrell Greene top-edged a hook at left-arm fast bowler Romeo Dunka and was caught at cover for eight.
Trevon Griffith, the first century-maker in this year’s competition, also fell to the hook shot. He again looked in fine touch, and brought the handful of spectators to life with a gorgeous straight drive which was followed up by two disdainful whips off his pads for boundaries in one over from Nicholson Gordon.
The ploy to bowl short at the left-hander worked. He had top-edged Dunka for six over fine-leg, but could not resist the temptation to hook, and was caught deep backward squad off Gordon, the ball after he was dropped at the same position.
Jeetendra Sookdeo struggled for 28 minutes for two before he was caught behind, while Seon Hetmyer fell for seven and Jonathon Foo went for 16 just before lunch as Guyana slipped to 81 for five at the interval.
Hetmyer was lbw to Garvey, and Foo, playing his sixth year for the Guyanese, charged down the pitch at Harty and was caught at mid-off.
After lunch, Royston Alkins and debutant Alex Amsterdam batted responsibility to add 58 for the sixth wicket before both batsmen threw their wickets away to leave Guyana on 133 for seven.
Amsterdam was caught and bowled for 29 by leg-spinner Akeem Dewar, and Alkins inexplicably unleashed a wild swipe at Dewar, and was caught at mid-off for 30.
Harty quickly removed Guyana captain Anthony Bramble for two and Bishun for the same score, as Guyana slumped to 133 for nine.
But last man Seon Daniels hit three massive sixes in an entertaining nine-ball 20 before he missed a big slog-sweep at Harty and was lbw as Guyana’s innings ended at tea. Dunka took two for 34 and Dewar snapped up two for 21 for the Jamaicans.
