Leading from the front!

Guyana battled to a respectable position against Barbados at the end of day one of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional Four-Day competition at the Providence National Stadium yesterday.

They reached 176 – 3 at stumps from 62 overs with captain Assad Fudadin unbeaten on 77 alongside Royston Crandon who is yet to score.

Play resumes today at 9:30am providing rain does not interrupt.

Guyana captain Assad Fudadin returns to the pavilion after his unbeaten innings of 77 yesterday. (Orlando Charles photo)

Rain yesterday prevented play until 12.40pm and when Guyana batted, openers Rajendra Chandrika and Fudadin faced the opening attack of Fidel Edwards and Pedro Collins.

The two took the opening partnership to 30 before Chandrika, who made a patient 18, nicked a delivery from Collins and was caught behind by  wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.

He faced 33 balls.

Former West Indies U-19 captain Leon Johnson joined Fudadin and the pair added 103 runs for the second wicket.

At tea, Guyana were sitting pretty on 102 – 1 from 35 overs with Fudadin 39, not out, and Johnson not out 32.

Upon resumption, Fudadin reached his half century in 172 minutes. He faced 116 balls and struck a solitary boundary.

Johnson duly brought up his half century from 108 balls. His innings was laced with eight boundaries.

The pair played watchfully and looked well composed on the wicket which appeared flat and good for batting.

The 103-run partnership was broken when

Johnson lost his composure and swept a delivery from Ryan Layne into the hands of Kraig Brathwaite at deep midwicket.

Gajanand Singh joined his captain at the middle and look to be in a no nonsense mood but was bowled for 19 by Edwards.

Singh and Fudadin put on  42 runs for the third wicket and after his dismissal, the umpires offered the light option to the batsmen who accepted. (See scoreboard on page 31)

Scoreboard

GUYANA 1st Innings
R. Chandrika c wkpr Dowrich b Collins                 18
*A. Fudadin not out                                                     77
L. Johnson c Brathwaite b Layne                            51
G. Singh b Edwards                                                     15
R. Crandon not out                                                        0
Extras (lb2, w2, nb11)                                               15
TOTAL (3 wkts, 61.1 overs)                                   176
V. Singh, R. Crandon, +D. Christian, C. Barnwell, V. Permaul, D. Bishoo, B. Bess to bat
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-133, 3-175
Bowling: Collins 8-0-36-1, Edwards 12.1-6-22-1, Hinds 6-0-15-0, Holder 5-1-12-0, Stoute 8-1-25-0, Layne 13-2-43-1, Chase 10-4-21-0
BARBADOS: D. Richards, K. Brathwaite, *R. Hinds, K. Hope, K. Stoute, R. Chase, +S. Dowrich, J. Holder, R. Layne, P. Collins, F. Edwards
Toss: Barbados
Umpires: N. Duguid, N. Malcolm
Matchreferee: C. Stuart
Reserve umpire: S. Crawford