Centuries from former West Indies U19 batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Tevin Imlach highlighted day two of the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board/Jaguars three–day franchise league competition at the Tuschen Sports Club Ground, yesterday.
At close of play East Bank were 74 – 4 against West Demerara, still 249 runs behind.
Earlier, West Demerara resumed the day on 183 – 2 with Imlach and Chanderpaul the overnight pair on 29 and 70 respectively.
The two had added 85 runs at the close on day one to push their side past East Bank’s first innings total of 171.
The pair, both of whom represented the West Indies at the junior level, started the morning in contrasting fashion with Imlach racing to his fifty after smoking off – spinner Darshan Persaud for four sixes to reach his milestone.
Chanderpaul, on the other hand, remained watchful as he neared his century.
The pair continued to motor on and carried the lead past the 100-run mark.
Soon after both batsmen reached their centuries, two overs apart, Chanderpaul before Imlach who reached his with an oozing on-drive.
Imlach was dismissed on the stroke of lunch for crafty a 103, falling LBW to Sherfane Rutherford in a knock which lasted 167 balls and included six fours and seven sixes.
Chanderpaul remained resolute at lunch on 104 with West Demerara cruising to 297 – 3 and at the time having a lead of 126.
The second session was much of the same, even a bit more eventful as West Demerara extended their lead to 285 with the score sitting on 456 – 5 as East Bank endured a torrid time in the field, allowing too many opportunities to slip through their fingers.
Chanderpaul was once again the focal point of the session as he remained watchful and capitalized on the loose deliveries to end the session on 151, the highest score of the league thus far.
The gritty left – hander shared in two important partnerships, one with Malcolm Howard, who carved out four sixes and two fours during his busy 40 during which time they added 59 for the fifth wicket.
He also added 83 runs with Romario Shepherd who also played freely for his 55, smoking five sixes one of which went miles out of the ground and five fours as he plundered the bowlers to all parts of the lush Tuschen Sports Club Ground.
West Demerara, in the final session, declared their innings closed on 494 – 7 with Chanderpaul ending unbeaten on 176. His stay at the crease lasted more than eight hours during which time he carved out 14 fours and five sixes ensuring that his side accumulate a mammoth 323-run lead.
It was a tough day for the bowlers who had to toil hard with Ronaldo Ali Mohammed (2-76), off – spinner Persaud (2-101) and Totaram Bishun (2-79) claiming consolation wickets.
East Bank had the worst possible start when Shepherd removed Sachin Singh LBW first ball of the innings.
The very next delivery saw Vishaul Singh being given a reprieve when Ronaldo Renee grassed a chance at first slip which could have spelt doom for the East Bank side.
Shepherd, nevertheless, continued to hit good areas and found more reward by removing Leonard Caleb (4) to leave the score on 11 – 2 with plenty of work ahead.
A counter attacking 49 from 35 balls by Ali – Mohammed who laced nine fours and a maximum eased the tension for a few overs before he was removed by fellow Guyana U19 player Keshram Seyhodan while night watchman Colin Benn (0) was dismissed by Richie Looknaught as East Bank ended the day one 74 – 4.
Skipper Vishaul Singh after his let off, controlled proceedings from there on and is unbeaten on 21 and with him is Rutherford who is yet to score. Play resumes 9:30 today.
