Johnson (58), Deonarine (51*) help Guyana draw against Jamaica

Feb 17, 2009 Sports

By Sean Devers
Leon Johnson (58) and Narsingh Deonarine (51*) helped Guyana to a draw against Jamaica in their sixth round WICB regional four-day cricket match which ended at the Providence Stadium yesterday.

Set 272 to win, Guyana reached 159-4 in their second innings when the match was called off at 17:11hrs with seven of the 15 mandatory remaining.

Johnson hit eight fours in his 127-ball and 148-minute innings and shared in a 58-run third wicket partnership with Deonarine who reached the boundary seven times in his 79-ball and 100-minute unbeaten half-century as Guyana ended their four-match losing streak.

Guyana, who took three points from the match to move to seven from five games, never attempted to chase the victory target after Royston Crandon (1) was LBW to man-of-the-match David Bernard at 2-1.

Shemroy Barrington (31) was LBW to Gavin Wallace on the stroke of tea with Guyana on 70-2 while Johnson edged Odean Browne to slip at 128-3 and Hoomchand Pooran (3) was removed by Nikita Miller at 141-4. Derwin Christian was unbeaten on 11 when the game was called off as Jamaica moved to 48 points; three behind leaders Barbados.

Earlier, Guyana began the final day on 301-9 replying to Jamaica’s 441-8 declared and fell for 302 when Travis Dowlin was bowled by Andrew Richardson (3-48) after adding one to his overnight 71.

Miller (3-64) and Browne (2-53) supported Richardson for the defending champions who lost wickets regularly hunting quick runs, before declaring at 132-8, forty-three minutes after lunch.

Esuan Crandon removed Brenton Parchment (0) with the first ball of the innings and bowled Donovan Pagon (0) two balls later.

Xavier Marshall and Wavell Hinds (23 each) fell to Deonarine and Royston Crandon respectively, as Jamaica went to lunch at 90-4. Tamar Lambert top-scored with 59 before he was run out after adding 41 in 28 minutes with Hinds for the fourth wicket.

Royston Crandon took 3-39 and his brother Esuan 2-16 for the Guyanese who face Trinidad and Tobago from Friday at Providence.