Set a small target of 114 to win, Chandrapaul Hemraj stroked his seventh first-class half century to see Guyana Jaguars defeat Barbados Pride by seven wickets before tea on the third day of the Cricket West Indies four-day championships at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
Pride resumed the penultimate day on 228-6 with a 103-run lead but lasted just five overs in the morning as they folded for 238 in 75.5 overs, responding to Jaguars’ first innings total of 201. The hosts then eased to 118-3 in 29 overs.
Left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul was struck to the mid-wicket boundary off his first delivery of the day but removed set batsman, Tevyn Walcott who added five to his overnight score before being trapped leg before wicket for 33 consisting of five boundaries.
Three balls later, the 29-year-old pulled off a miraculous caught and bowled offer to send Chaim Holder on his way.
Man of the match, Raymon Reifer also collected two wickets in one over to conclude the innings 20 minutes into the session. He ended with 4-22, after already taking a five-wicket haul and stroking a half century in the match.
The 27-year-old left-arm seamer stated after the match that the mindset for him was “pretty clear” noting that it was “just go out there and do what you have to do and let the results take care of themselves.”
The Barbados-born all-rounder brushed off suggestions of a special feeling when playing against his home team, pointing out that he plays every match with the same passion.
In the Jaguars’ reply, the 25-year-old left-handed opener, Hemraj was bowled by Miguel Cummins off a no ball and Pride paid the price he stroked a 63-ball 51 consisting of five fours and a lone six which was pulled into the Green Stand at the deep mid-wicket region off of Shamar Springer.
However, Springer would have his revenge with Hemraj holding out to Cummins at short mid-off to end his stay at the crease.
Springer had earlier removed Vishaul Singh four minutes to lunch, the batsman being sharply caught at second slip as well as Tagenarine Chanderpaul for eight runs each.
Nevertheless, an unbroken partnership of 36 between Christopher Barnwell and Leon Johnson saw their side get over the line.
Johnson’s innings of 20 not out was constructed patiently. He faced 40 balls but picked the bad balls well, hitting four boundaries along the way.
Barnwell was equally aggressive with an unbeaten 12-ball 20 and finished the game with a bang, hitting Jonathan Carter down to long off for a boundary which was followed by a four through backward point and a six over long on to finish the match. After the match, Brooks said it was a competitive game but felt that his side didn’t do well in the first innings but recovered well to limit the strong batting line up to 201.
Brooks explained that they came back well heading into the third day but losing four wickets for just 10 runs really set them back.
Meanwhile, the victorious captain Johnson said the win “was good especially coming off a loss against Jamaica in two days, it’s good to finish the game early and be on the winning side.”
Johnson believed that the match was set up on the first day after bowling Pride out for 76, noting that it was always going to be an uphill battle for them to come back.
The captain credited Reifer for his all-round contributions but acknowledged it was a total team effort.
