GEORGETOWN, Guyana – T&T Red Force endured a second batting slump to find themselves staring at their first defeat of the season, on the penultimate day of their third-round match in the Regional Four-Day Championship against champions Guyana Jaguars.
Chasing an improbable 403 for victory at the Guyana National Stadium here Saturday, the visitors were tottering on 122 for six at the close – still, 281 runs adrift heading into Sunday’s final day.
Already, they have lost their marquee batsmen – in-form captain Darren Bravo for two, Jason Mohammed for a top score of 33 and Joshua DaSilva for eight – leaving them with little hope of saving the contest.
Opener Jeremy Solozano made 34 and Yannic Cariah, 27, but neither built on their starts as fast bowler Keon Joseph (2-15) and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-27) struck key blows.
Resuming the morning on 53 without loss and already 278 runs ahead, Jaguars got 54 from opener Chandrapaul Hemraj while fellow left-handers Vishaul Singh (37 not out) and Vishaul Singh (33) chipped in to further extend the lead.
Hemraj, resuming on 22, hit five fours off 92 balls in 1-½ hours as he pushed his first wicket stand with Chanderpaul to 65, before adding a further 38 with captain Leon Johnson (17).
When Hemraj and Johnson fell 12 runs apart to leave Jaguars on 115 for three, Vishaul struck six fours in a 72-ball knock to post 44 for the fourth wicket partnership with Chris Barnwell (21), to rally the innings before the declaration came at 177 for five.
Joseph then rocked the Red Force innings, removing Keagan Simmons to a catch at the wicket without scoring in the third over before bowling Bravo in his next over, to leave Red Force stumbling on five for two.
Mohammed and Solozano provided Red Force with precious hope in a stand of 62 for the third wicket, as Jaguars struggled to separate the duo.
The right-handed Mohammed faced 64 balls and counted four boundaries while the left-handed Solozano faced 72 deliveries and notched six fours.
Permaul got the breakthrough, bowling Mohammed and 14 balls later with 11 runs added, off-spinner Kevin Sinclair trapped Solozano lbw as Jaguars slipped to 82 for five.
Cariah played positively to hit four fours in a 42-ball stay at the crease, a knock which underpinned a 35-run stand sixth-wicket partnership with Kjorn Ottley (13 not out).
However, discarded Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo gained an lbw verdict against Cariah in the third over before the close to extend Red Force’s misery.
SCORES
JAGUARS 323 (Anthony Bramble 91, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 68, Chris Barnwell 58, Chandrapaul Hemraj 36, Devendra Bishoo 27; Bryan Charles 5-87) & 177 for five decl. (Chandrapaul Hemraj 54, Vishaul Singh 37 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 33; Yannick Ottley 2-8)
RED FORCE 98 (Jeremy Solozano 27, Kjorn Ottley 22; Nial Smith 5-12, Veerasammy Permaul 4-29) and 122 for six (Jeremy Solozano 34, Jason Mohammed 33; Keon Joseph 2-15)
<Holder 10-wicket haul fires Pride to crushing win>
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Chemar Holder’s career-best 10-wicket match haul proved Jamaica Scorpions’ undoing, as Barbados Pride stormed to an emphatic 119-run victory with a day to spare in their third round match of the Regional Four-Day Championship on Saturday.
Asked to chase 288 after Pride were dismissed for a disappointing 206 in their second innings within half-hour of the morning session at Sabina Park, Scorpions produced another limp batting display in their second innings to fold for 168 on the stroke of tea.
Yet again, they were undermined by fast bowler Holder who finished with a career-best innings haul of six for 47 to follow up his first innings five-wicket blast and register match figures of 11 for 92.
He was supported by Test seamer Kemar Roach with two for 26 while speedster Keon Harding picked up two for 58.
SCORES
BARBADOS PRIDE 219 (Shayne Moseley 64, Kyle Mayers 53, Kraigg Brathwaite 25; Marquino Mindley 4-31, Rovman Powell 3-65) and 206 (Shane Dowrich 73, Kyle Mayers 53; Nicholson Gordon 6-45, Patrick Harty 2-33)
JAMAICA SCORPIONS 138 (Denis Smith 35, John Campbell 26, Derval Green 25; Chemar Holder 5-45, Kemar Harding 2-29, Kemar Roach 2-37) and 168 (Nkrumah Bonner 39 not out, Denis Smith 26; Chemar Holder 6-47, Kemar Roach 2-26)
(CMC)