Permaul, Bishoo maul Jamaica as Jaguars win fifth straight

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul finished with a ten-wicket match haul as Guyana Jaguars continued their imperious march through the WICB PCL with a resounding five-wicket win over Jamaica Franchise here yesterday.

Chasing a moderate 161 for victory, Guyana eased to their target late on the third day of the eighth round fixture, to complete their fifth straight win of the tournament.

Captain Leon Johnson stroked 58, Vishaul Singh, 57 while Chris Barnwell finished on 21 not out.

Permaul had earlier claimed five for 33 as Jamaica, starting the day on 22 for one, were bundled out for 138 at the National Stadium here.

He was supported by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo who picked up four for 22 to end with an eight-wicket match haul.

Permaul, overlooked recently for the West Indies World Cup squad, finished with match figures of ten for 110.

Not for the first time this season, Jamaica’s batting struggled and only Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood with a top score of 47, and opener John Campbell with 28, showed any enterprise.

They put on 77 for the second wicket to lift Jamaica to 78 for one at one stage but once they were separated, the last nine wickets crashed for 50 runs.

Blackwood’s innings was a breezy one, requiring just 57 balls and including five fours and a six while Campbell struck four fours off 53 balls in 79 minutes at the crease.

Permaul removed both within 11 runs and 15 balls of each other, and along with Bishoo, then decimated the remainder of the Jamaica innings.

In pursuit of their victory target, Guyana slipped to 42 for three after fast bowler Jason Dawes, who finished with three for 24, made two early strikes.

He bowled Assad Fudadin for two with the score on 14, trapped the other opener Rajindra Chandrika lbw for 15 with 32 on the board, before leg-spinner Damion Jacobs claimed veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul cheaply for four.

However, Johnson and Vishaul Singh stroked half-centuries in a crucial 89-run, fourth wicket stand which put Guyana on the brink of victory.

Johnson hit five fours off 95 balls in 160 minutes at the crease while Vishaul faced 147 deliveries in 158 minutes and counted six fours.

By the time Dawes returned to claim Vishaul to a catch at the wicket at 131 for four, Jaguars already had victory well within their grasp.