Jaguars take slim lead over Volcanoes

-Reifer shines with bat and ball

The Guyana Jaguars took a slim lead of 27 over Windward Islands Volcanoes who were 90 for the loss of four wickets at the end of the second day of their day/night encounter at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Ground in Gros-Islet, St Lucia.

Left-armer Raymon Reifer … finished with a career-best six for 82.
Left-armer Raymon Reifer … finished with a career-best six for 82.

Following up with his 6-82 in the Windwards first innings, Raymond Reifer scored 52 runs and together with Anthony Bramble (58) were the lead scorers in Guyana’s total of 219 all out. Chris Barnwell chipped in with 30 and Captain Leon Johnson with 30. For the Windwards Mervin Matthew and Delorn Johnson took four wickets apiece. At stumps last night, the Volcanoes had lost four wickets for 90 with Tyrone Theophile the lead scorer before losing his wicket. For the Jaguars, Keon Joseph has so far taken three wickets for 26 runs.

On day one Reifer picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in first class cricket but Guyana Jaguars then suffered a batting slump to concede some of their initiative on the opening day of their third round contest against the Volcanoes.

Sent in, Volcanoes were dismissed for 192 with left-arm seamer Reifer finishing with excellent figures of six for 82 and new ball partner Joseph claiming two for 50.

In reply, Jaguars crashed to 44 for four before recovering to reach the close on 73 for four, with captain Leon Johnson unbeaten on 21 and all-rounder Chris Barnwell on 20.

Earlier, all-rounder Kyle Mayers extended his good form with a top score of 51 while captain Liam Sebastien struck 44 and tail-ender Delorn Johnson, a cameo 30 as Volcanoes managed to recover from the peril of 26 for four inside the first hour.

The revival started courtesy of a 72-run, fifth wicket stand between Sebastien and wicketkeeper Sunil Ambris who made 24.

Sebastien’s knock was an up tempo one, coming from just 47 balls and including nine fours while Ambris was more sedate, spending 92 balls and an hour-and-a-half over his innings which included three fours.

When both fell in the space of two deliveries in successive overs with the score on 98, Mayers spearheaded two key partnerships to extend the life of the innings.

The Barbadian left-hander, who stroked ten fours in a lively 65-ball knock, put on 32 for the seventh wicket with Shane Shillingford (6) and a further 42 for the ninth wicket with Johnson, who slammed four fours and a six in an entertaining 23-ball innings.