Reifer records maiden ton

--as Jaguars pile on highest team score against TT

Raymon Reifer expresses relief after reaching his maiden first-class century yesterday (Orlando Charles photo)
Raymon Reifer expresses relief after reaching his maiden first-class century yesterday (Orlando Charles photo)

Raymon Reifer yesterday fortified his reputation as a genuine all-rounder after registering his maiden first-class ton to go along with the first innings five-wicket haul on the first day at stumps on the penultimate day of the Guyana Jaguars’ clash against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

It was also the day when skipper Leon Johnson shepherded his side to another record, as Jaguars registered Guyana’s highest ever first-class score against the Twin Island Republic.

Jaguars resumed on 466 – 7 with a handsome lead of 331 with Reifer on 85 and Keemo Paul on 35.

The duo began the day running well between the wickets while finding the fence on a few occasions.

Paul, one of two men eying landmarks, reached his first by smashing leg-spinner, Imran Khan over long on for a towering maximum to register his maiden first-class 50.

His knock which included seven fours and two sixes was a welcome return to form but he was trapped LBW shortly after by the same bowler for 54, ending an 88-run stand with Reifer with the score on 499 – 8.

Reifer, though, bided his time in the 90s and eventually reached his first three figures score with an elegant nudge into the leg side, thumping the air in celebration.

The declaration then came with the Barbadian unbeaten on 108, a marathon innings spanning 217 deliveries.

He struck 10 fours before the titleholders called time on their innings on 540 – 9, which happens to be their highest first-class score against a Trinidad and Tobago side, bettering the previous best of 537, set way back in 1971 and in the process building a lead of 405.

It was a sorry looking bowling card for the visitors with Yannic Cariah’s 3 – 91 the best returns while his fellow leg-spinner Khan had 2 – 130 and  off-spinner Bryan Charles’ 2-107.

Red Force in their second innings, were 33 – 0 at lunch.

The score quickly moved to 43 – 3 after the break as spin duo Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie combined to remove Red Force’s openers Amir Jangoo and Jeremy Solozano both for 16 in quick succession.

It was the Tion Webster’s show from there on. He got going with an exquisite on-drive off Motie after which he blasted a quickfire 50 off 39 balls, decorated with eight fours and two sixes.

The right-hander, after reaching his landmark, took Paul to the cleaners, smacking 24 runs off an over before Paul had his man brilliantly caught by Rutherford for 77, a knock inclusive of 11 fours and four sixes.

His demise left the score on 127 – 3 at which point skipper Denesh Ramdin joined Jason Mohammed.

Both men used their experience taking Red Force to 208 -3 into the tea interval with Mohammed recording his 50, going into the break on 56. Ramdin, on the other hand, compiled 32 in their 80-run unbroken run stand. That session saw the visitors scoring 175 runs.

The two right-handers continued to build their partnership after the break, taking the score to 244 before Rutherford outfoxed Ramdin for 47.

Motie struck one run later, removing Cariah (0) while Rutherford ticked the wickets column again soon after by removing Steven Katwaroo (0), leaving the score on 246 – 6.

Khan also went late in the day, bowled by Paul for 17 which prompted skipper Johnson to ask the umpires for an additional 30 minutes to take the final three wickets.

Mohammed, who ended unbeaten on 92 from 184 deliveries lost Daniel St Clair (2) in the final over of the day as Red Force ended on 282 – 8, still trailing by 123.

Rutherford (2-19), Motie (2-72), Permaul (2-61) and Paul all bagged two wickets apiece.