Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 08, 2014 Sports
By Sean Devers
In 2010 pink balls were used for the first time in West Indies first Class cricket when Guyana opposed Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Day/Night Four-Day game in Antigua.
Last night at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, First-Class cricket was played in Guyana for the first time under lights with Guyana ending the opening day of their historic Regional Four-Day contest against Barbados on 35 without loss replying to the 184 all out made by the visitors.
Only Roston Chase offered any prolonged resistance with an accomplished 55 as 23-year-old Raun Johnson made an auspicious entry to First-Class cricket on a flat track with an impressive 13-over spell which earned him figures of 3-38.
Left-arm Test spinner Veerasammy Permaul ripped out the last three batsmen without conceding a run to end with 3-32 and move to 10 wickets in the tournament.
When Guyana, who collected three bonus bowling points, began their run chase, Sewnarine Chattergoon got going with an inside edge for four off Miguel Cummings before stroking the pacer majestically to the cover boundary a few overs later.
Taignarine Chanderpaul whipped a full toss from off-spinner Ashley Nurse to the mid wicket boundary as the pair survived the 65 minutes remaining in the day’s play. Chattergoon (14) and Chanderpaul (11), just back from a successful Under-19 World Cup in Dubai, carried Guyana, who left out Amir Khan and Chanderpaul Hemraj from their starting line-up, to safely to the close.
Taignarine, the son of prolific left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul, has his father’s temperament and although Tino Best bent his back and tested him with a few short balls the young ‘Tiger’ played the supporting role to Chattergoon to leave Guyana 149 runs short of the Bajan total.
Earlier, Barbados won the toss and elected to bat in bright sunshine on a slow track with a tinge of green and watched by a handful of fans, including students from the Success Primary School, reached six before they lost their first wicket.
The 6ft, 4 inches Johnson got his maiden First-Class wicket when he removed Rashidi Boucher (1) caught by Skipper Chris Barnwell in his second over at this level.
Johnson created history by joining Keon Joseph as the first pair from Bush Lot United Sports Club in West Berbice to share the new ball in a First-Class match for Guyana and should have had Skipper Kraigg Braithwaite with the score on 11.
Johnson induced the slimly built right-hander to edge a ball which passed between Chattergoon at first Slip and Assad Fudadin at second at catchable height as neither of the two moved much to the consternation of Johnson, who produced an impressive opening spell.
Chase joined his former Barbados Under-17 Captain and got going with a sweetly timed cover drive off Johnson for four and together they quietly took the score to 30-1 by the first water break.
Braithwaite is only 21 years-old but has already scored four fifties from 10 Tests and his job was to bat as long as possible. But yesterday he got one from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo which turned away from him, found a thin edge and was taken by Wicket Keeper Anthony Bramble for 19 to leave Barbados on 47-2.
Jonathon Carter (5) was trapped LBW to Narsingh Deonarine, who took 7-26 two years ago when Barbados fell for their lowest ever total against Guyana and the visitors had slipped to 57-3, three balls before Lunch. Guyana struck again two overs after the interval when Limited overs Skipper Kevin Stoute was run out for a duck to leave the team from the most Eastern Caribbean Island on 58-4.
Chase cut Permaul for four and the diminutive Shane Dowrich hammered Devendra Bishoo for another boundary as the pair orchestrated ‘operation rebuild’, bringing up their 50 partnership in 15.4 overs.
Chase soon reached his maiden First-Class fifty with five overthrows to pass his previous highest score of 49 which he also made against Guyana last year. His half-century lasted 163 minutes, 131 balls and was decorated with six fours on the lush green and fast outfield.
Dowrich and Chase put together 59 for the fifth wicket before Dowrich was taken at mid-on by Permaul as he tried to ‘check’ his shot when Joseph cleverly bowled a slower ball to leave the Bajans on 117-5 with the floodlights taking effect under a cool night sky.
Dowrich’s 35 was decorated with five fours, spanning 67 minutes and 68 balls; his demise brought Carlos Braithwaite to the crease.
In their 67th meeting at this level since 1966 when Regional cricket acquired sponsorship, and on a docile track which made fast bowling a laborious task, Chase, in his seventh First-Class game, looked rock solid until he edged the impressive Johnson to the keeper. He batted for 208 minutes, faced 166 balls and reached the boundary eight times to leave on 132-6.
By Tea, Barbados with a record 21 titles to their name, were 138-6 and after the break Nurse crashed Permaul gloriously through extra cover for four but Carlos Braithwaite (13) was trapped plumb in front by the towering Johnson at 145-7.
Suleiman Benn, the tallest man in game at 6ft 7 inches, came forward and pushed Johnson one-bounce to the cover boundary before edging him agonizingly close to the Keeper for another four.
Barnwell surprisingly replaced Johnson 25 minutes after Tea and released the pressure. Nurse pounced on the medium pacer and smashed him for four before ‘doctoring’ him with a pugnacious six in his first over in a new spell.
The partnership of 39 was broken when Benn was taken at slip for 15 off Permaul who trapped Best for a duck next ball at 184-9. He then bowled Cummins in the same over as Barbados collapsed in dramatic fashion, leaving Nurse unbeaten 29.
Today is the second day and play is scheduled to commence at 15:00hrs. Admission is free.
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