Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 03, 2014 Sports
By Sean Devers in Jamaica
In Association with Sterling Products Ltd,
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A responsible half-century from diminutive left-hander, Vishaul Singh, led a resolute Guyana batting performance yesterday to frustrate the Jamaicans on the third and penultimate day of their Regional First-Class first round fixture at Sabina Park in which 28 maidens were bowled in 89.5 overs.
The 25-year-old Singh top-scored with 73 from 300 minutes and 227 balls to ensure the Guyanese reached 219-8 by the close, enjoying a lead of 42 going into today’s final day. The GCC left-hander bettered his previous best of 66 against Barbados in 2011 as he posted his second 50 at this level.
Assad Fudadin (33) and Narsingh Deonarine (38) lent useful support as Guyana, who lost by 212 runs inside three days last year at Providence when the teams last met, batted out the entire day as they battled desperately to save the game.
The 29-year-old Test pacer Jerome Taylor had an impressive spell finishing with 5-29 to put the home firmly in control.
Scores (Guy 117 all out & 219-8), Jamaica (294 all out)
Guyana resumed on 32-1 needing 176 to make Jamaica bat again and the overnight pair of Fudadin and Singh batted resolutely in a slow but invaluable partnership and after the first hour had crawled to 66-1.
They added just 34 runs with Fudadin taking 98 balls for 12 runs and Singh using up 84 balls for his 22 at the water break. But the important thing from a Guyana perspective was the diligent occupation of the crease by the second wicket pair on another day blessed with glorious sunshine.
Fudadin, who has played three Tests, took on the innocuous off-spin of the non-turning Jamie Merchant, who captured four wickets in the first innings and accelerated towards the end of the first session with two boundaries off the slow bowler.
Sheldon Cotterell replaced Dave Bernard from the Northern end and tested the batmen with a couple of short balls on a flat, straw coloured track.
However, the confidence of both batsmen increased as their innings progressed and they played with more freedom to take their team to Lunch at 90-1 with Fudadin on 30 and Singh, who swept Merchant for the fourth boundary of the opening session in the penultimate over of a frustrating session for Jamaica, on 38.
Fudadin had batted for 197 minutes and Singh for 166 minutes and while their partnership was exciting as watching paint dry, the value of the stand cannot be overstated as Guyana fought bravely.
Fudadin’s vigil ended 16 minutes after the interval when he edged Tamar Lambert to the Keeper for 33 after facing 162 balls and batting for 213 minutes. He reached the ropes four times and his demise left Guyana on 97-2 and broke the solid 78-run partnership.
Deonarine hit Lambert for four, off his second ball, to bring up the Guyana 100 in 217 minutes.
The left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell, who played a solitary Test, greeted Deonarine with a couple of quick bouncers and the spattering of spectators voiced their approval as the left-hander from Albion in Berbice fended uncomfortably.
Singh reached his half century from 180 balls and 261 minutes after getting his maiden 50 at this level in 2011 against Barbados but he was made to work really hard for it. Deonarine, not one to be bugged down, danced into Lambert and hit him for six back over his head to free the shackles.
Merchant replaced Lambert just before Tea but bowled much too fast and flat on a pitch offering little help for the bowlers. Singh and Deonarine soon brought up their 50 partnership from 93 minutes and 138 balls and Deonarine celebrated the landmark by lofting leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner for a nonchalant six.
At Tea Guyana were 154-2 with Singh on 55 and Deonarine on 38. Their partnership was worth 57 runs as they further frustrated the ‘Yardies’ in ideal conditions for batting on a lush green Sabina Park sward.
Bonner finally made the break-through when he had Deonarine caught and bowled in the first over after Tea before Guyana had added to their Tea time score. Deonarine, who has nine tons from 114 First-Class matches, again wasted a good start just when he seemed set for his 43rd half-century.
Chris Barnwell joined Singh in sunny conditions with a cool breeze blowing across the ground before Barnwell, who hit two fours in a quick 14, was sent packing for the second time in the match by Merchant to leave the South Americans on 180-4.
Wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble kept Singh’s company and dumped Bonner for six to bring up the 200 from 482 minutes and 95.4 overs.
With the shimmering blue Caribbean Sea in the background and pulsating Reggae music blasting in the stands, Singh and Bramble added 31 for the fifth wicket before Horace Miller held a good, low catch at extra cover when Bramble (11) played an irresponsible drive at Jerome Taylor at 201-5 when he should have been playing the supporting role to Singh and looking to bat for long as possible.
Devendra Bishoo joined Singh and Jamaica took the second new ball after 101.5 overs at 205-5. Taylor induced Singh to steer a short ball to second slip without addition to the score as Singh gifted his wicket after doing all the hard work.
Veerasammy Permaul (1) was caught at second slip off Taylor at 213-7 while Amir Khan whipped Taylor elegantly for four to get off the mark as he and Bishoo almost survived to the end without further loss.
However, Khan (4) was removed by Taylor off the last ball of the day when Miller, at short leg, held a sharp catch as the 29-year-old Taylor made an auspicious return to First-Class cricket for the first time in a couple of years with his 13th five-wicket haul at this level.
Bishoo who scored his highest First-Class score last year in Trinidad, will need to reproduce that form and plenty of support from the last two batsmen and possible pray for some rain if Guyana will have any chance of avoiding their second consecutive defeat against Jamaica today.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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