TWO-TIME reigning regional champions, Guyana Jaguars, closed day one at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence in their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional four-day round one match in a steady position at 279-7. Steered predominantly by veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul and opener Rajendra Chandrika, the home side had got off to the start that they needed and currently have Veerasammy Permaul (8*) and Eon Hooper (0*) at the crease.
The former West Indies captain notched up another first-class half-century in uncharacteristic style before just missing out on a century, ending on 91 after being caught at first slip with just one over remaining in the day’s play.
Chandrika had earlier set the trend with his 86, which included 12 fours, as the Jaguars looked defend their regional title in the longest format.
The first wicket of the day to fall was that of left-hander Shimron Hetmyer (5), his stumps being unsettled by pacer Marquino Mindley which brought captain Leon Johnson to the crease.
The skipper partnered with his fellow West Indies batsman Chandrika to settle the innings and take the home side to 89-1 at lunch after 30 overs, moving it further past 100 before the skipper’s gates were broken on 19 by a `doozy’ from newcomer Derval Green.
The introduction of the Scorpions captain and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller bore some fruit as Chandrika, batting smartly, was duped by a delivery which broke the edge. The Jaguars were not sweating however, as Vishal Singh (16) and Chanderpaul partnered to push the total well past 150.
Resuming from tea at 166-3, the Jaguars lost Singh to leg-spinner Damion Jacobs but Chanderpaul found a useful partner in Raymon Reifer (40) with the duo causing some amount of discomfort before the later departed via lbw to Green.
Anthony Bramble (0) was knocked over by Miller after which Chanderpaul lost his wicket.
Nikita Miller has so far bagged 3-54; Green returned 2-61 while Jacobs and Mindley picked up one each.
Action on day two continues at 09:30hrs.

JAGUARS 1st innings
R. Chandrika c wkp. Walton b Miller 86
S. Hetmyer b Mindley 5
L. Johnson b Green 19
V. Singh c (sub.) King b Jacobs 16
S. Chanderpaul c Blackwood b Miller 91
R. Reifer lbw b Green 40
A. Bramble b Miller 0
V. Permaul not out 8
E. Hooper 0
Extras: (b-5, lb-2, nb-7) 14
Total: (7 wkts, 94 overs) 279
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-111, 3-125, 4-165, 5-233, 6-234, 7-279.
Bowling: Dawes 10-1-37-0, Mindley 8-4-21-1, Miller 34-10-64-3, Green 17-1-61-2, Jacobs 18-5-69-1, Campbell 7-2-20-0.
Umpires: Nigel Duguid, Jonathan Blades.