Vishaul `Cheesy’ Singh and skipper Leon Johnson struck first innings half centuries on day one of the Guyana Jaguars 4-day preparation match between Johnson’s XI and Shimron Hetmeyer’s XI played yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club, ground Bourda.
At stumps, Johnson’s XI were comfortably placed on 238 for 6 from 84 overs with Singh unbeaten on 76 with four fours, an innings which lasted 228 minutes and Chris Barnwell on 16.
The Hetmyer XI bowlers toiled on a difficult bowling surface but got some penetration from Barbadian pacer Javon Searles (1-28) and spinners Gudakesh Motie (1-38) and Steven Sankar (1-25).
Johnson crafted a brisk 61 from 84 balls with nine fours and a six. He occupied the crease for 112 minutes while Shiv Chanderpaul played well for his 82-ball 37, striking three fours.
Batting first on a hard wicket in brilliant sunshine, Johnson’s XI lost opener Assad Fudadin (12) who struck a four before Searles had him run out.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who also opened the innings, and Johnson, consolidated the innings up until the lunch break as they looked to settle in.
The two left-handers were fluent in their approach.
Johnson’s was two-tiered as he sought to watch the good balls and crack the loose deliveries from the pacers for boundaries while his younger partner soon got into the action. At lunch, the two were set with Johnson on 35 and Chanderpaul on 20 and the team on 78 for 1.
The partnership was broken when the Searles knocked over the latter a few minutes into the afternoon session breaking the 59-run partnership. Johnson pressed on and reached his 50 with a four.
The skipper’s 50 and the team’s century came off the same shot in the 33rd over of the day’s play.
Singh was watchful, handing most of the strike to Johnson who seemed to be in a comfortable batting zone as boundaries continued to flay off his bat.
The introduction of former West Indies U19 spinner Motie proved to be a good move by Hetmyer as it resulted in the wicket of Johnson who was caught and bowled after mistiming a delivery which the bowler seemed to hold back a bit.
The senior Chanderpaul and Singh then dropped anchor after the dismissals of Fudadin, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Johnson taking the score to 164 at tea with Chanderpaul senior on 32 and Singh looking solid on 24. The West Indies stalwart would only be able to add an extra seven runs to
his total before he was caught by Hetmyer off Sankar at square-leg who broke the 61-run partnership.
Singh’s half-century came with a push through the on-side off Searles the over following the second water break. He required 116 balls and two fours. Scurrying for a few runs the next over resulted in the run out of Raymon Reifer who scored four off 24 balls. The 200 came up in the 72nd over as Singh and new batsman Barnwell looked to hold their ends up as close of play approached.
The pair held their nerve to ensure their team was solidly placed on a good score with enough wickets in hand heading into the second day. Day Two’s innings is expected to start at 9:00hrs.
