Singh, Johnson stroke half centuries

Leon Johnson sweeps during his half century (Orlando Charles photo)
Leon Johnson sweeps during his half century (Orlando Charles photo)

Guyana Jaguars closed day two trailing Jamaica Scorpions by 155 runs with five wickets intact in   their seventh round clash of the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-Day Championships at Providence yesterday.

Scorpions resumed on 320-8 and were all out some 30 minutes into the session for 358 in 97.2 overs.

At the close, the defending champions, who toiled for 83 overs, were 205-5 with Raymon Reifer and Christopher Barnwell at the crease on five and 22 respectively runs.

Vishaul Singh works a delivery through the covers (Orlando Charles photo)

With the sun blazing in all its glory, Derval Green converted his overnight score of 59 into 86, hitting two more sixes (four in total) along with seven fours before heguided a shorter ball from Romario Shepherd into the hands of Leon Johnson at first slip.

Bulli, who shared in a 108-run partnership with Green for the ninth wicket, added just three to take his overnight score to 33 before he slapped a Veerasammy Permaul delivery to Gudakesh Motie at backward point to end  his 85-ball stay at the crease.

When Jaguars came out to bat, Chandrapaul Hemraj carved Jerome Taylor through the covers for a boundary in the first over but was bowled by Green attempting a drive shortly after.

His opening partner, Tagenarine Chanderpaul did not spend much time at the crease after the left handed batsman was forced to play at a delivery that shaped away from him by Taylor.

He was caught by the wicket-keeper for a 21-ball 10. Chanderpaul failed to make use of his chance after  being dropped on nine.

Rutherford was promoted to number three and  he and his captain, Johnson, shared in a 42-run stand that took the defending champions to 53-2 at lunch.

However, after the break, the 20-year-old smashed Rovman Powell for two boundaries through the covers, taking his tally to five and followed up with an edge of an out-swinging delivery in the same over that carried to Jermaine Blackwood at first slip. He made 31.

Johnson was joined by Vishaul Singh and the two Georgetown Cricket Club mates forged a 102-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Johnson was patient in his 184-ball innings, cutting Taylor square of the wicket for one of his seven boundaries to bring up his second half century of the season. He was given out leg before wicket attempting to paddle off-spinner, Blackwood’s first ball of the match.

Singh was also cautious at the crease, facing 167 balls for his 61. During his over three-hour stay in the middle, the left hander accounted for eight boundaries.

He was eventually undone by a ripping delivery from Bulli that brushed the gloves and went into the hands of Blackwood at first slip.

With the pressure mounting, Barnwell was watchful at the wicket, seeing off 60 deliveries in his hour-long stay out in the middle, hitting two boundaries along the way.

The match resumes day at 10:00 hrs.