Shillingford brilliant as Windwards/Guyana match ends in rare tie 

Given! Anthony Bramble is adjudged LBW by umpire Christopher Taylor as the Islanders celebrate a moral victory (Royston Alkins Photo)
Given! Anthony Bramble is adjudged LBW by umpire Christopher Taylor as the Islanders celebrate a moral victory (Royston Alkins Photo)

A colossal batting collapse by the Guyana Jaguars instigated by a brilliant bowling performance from off-spinner Shane Shillingford prevented the defending champions from registering another win in this edition of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) regional four-day tournament with the match ending in a rare tie at the Guyana National stadium Providence.

Jaguars resuming on 104 – 4, requiring another 61 runs hand bottom of the table the Windward Island Volcanoes another defeat, were bundled out for 164 as Shillingford’s 5 – 47 overshadowed a sterling effort from Anthony Bramble the last man who was dismissed by him for a fighting 45.

Vishaul Singh who resumed the final morning on 48, and with him, Bramble on 10, reached his fifty after which he was trapped LBW by Shillingford with the score on 118 – 5.

His demise followed a period where Bramble chanced his arm and found the fence on a few occasions as Jaguars draw closer to the target while wickets tumbling at the other end.

Sherfane Rutherford (2) fell to Delorn Johnson while an ugly mix-up between Bramble and Keemo Paul (3) dented the host chances even further.

Veerasammy Permaul and Bramble though brought the host right back into the mix by adding 20 vital runs, taking the score from 138 – 7 to 158 when Permaul presented a simple return catch to Shillingford as he collected his third.

Gudakesh Motie, the next man in, only lasted two deliveries before the off-spinner struck again with the score still on 158.

It was down to number 11 Keon Joseph to see out two deliveries from Shillingford and that he did along with a few more from Kyle Mayers.

Bramble all the while brought Jaguars within one run after scooping Shillingford for two runs and undoubtedly thought that the match was in the bag.

However, the umpires in querying the score held the game up for close to five minutes which may have broken Bramble’s concentration which resulted in him being trapped LBW the very next delivery to end the match in a tie.

Shillingford who ended the match with 9 – 83, earned himself the man of the match award for his brilliant effort.