KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Clinton Pestano’s four-wicket burst hauled leaders Guyana Jaguars back into their eighth-round contest against Jamaica Scorpions after a batting collapse left them in danger of falling behind, on the opening day at Sabina Park here yesterday.
Defending a paltry 158, Jaguars showed the mettle of champions as they reduced the hosts to 108 for six at the close – still 50 runs ahead heading into day two today.
At the heart of the revival was the wily seamer Pestano who claimed four for 16 from six devastating overs, as a stunned Scorpions reeled at 30 for five.
The 26-year-old claimed the first three wickets to fall with captain Paul Palmer (0), Chadwick Walton (7) and Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood (13) all going cheaply.
However, Derval Green, who has so far top-scored with 40, and Assad Fudadin, unbeaten at the close on 31, both counter-attacked in a sixth wicket stand of 68.
Green lashed seven fours in a cameo 38-ball stay while Fudadin has faced 53 deliveries and counted six boundaries.
Sent in earlier, Jaguars’ innings never found momentum and suffered from a lack of partnerships, as wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble top-scored with 36, Vishaul Singh got 27 while captain Leon Johnson chipped in with 24.
Two small partnerships helped put the total beyond 150. Stumbling on 44 for three, Vishaul Singh and Johnson added 45 for the fourth wicket to revive the innings.
And when both left-handers were part of a slide that saw four wickets tumble for 10 runs, Bramble and Romario Shepherd (16) put on 42 to steady the lower order.
Bramble was his usual aggressive self, striking six fours off 49 deliveries.