AN inexplicable batting collapse left the Jamaica Scorpions staring down the barrel, as left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul six-wicket haul gave the Guyana Jaguars a firm grip after day two yesterday.

The two sides are contesting the first round of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day game at the National Stadium, Providence.
The tourists lost seven first innings wickets for just 23 runs to be bowled out for a pathetic 99, handing the momentum to the Guyanese, who closed the second day on 106-4, batting a second time.

With a 67-run cushion, the three-time defending champions pressed home the advantage by finishing the day with an overall lead of 273 runs. At stumps Leon Johnson is on 11 while Bhaskar Yadram is yet to score.
It was a sensational post-lunch spell by Permaul, who captured 6-29 in just 19.5 overs, as the visitors batting crumbled in dramatic fashion after being 76-4 at one stage.
Guyanese Assad Fudadin, who opted to play for the Scorpions after refusing a local contract was the top-scorer with 39, and Captain Paul Palmer contributed 31, but the rest of their batsmen couldn’t muster much between them.

However, when play resumed yesterday, the Jaguars’ remaining batsmen managed to survive six overs where they added just eight runs to their overnight total of 258-8.
Pacer Derval Green, who finished with figures of 4-63, claimed the final two wickets of overnight batsman, Permaul (3), and Gudakesh Motie, who went without scoring. The other overnight batsman Romario Shepherd was unbeaten on 22.
The strong start the Scorpions expected from their openers, however, did not materialise after both Shepherd and Keemo Paul found a good length and steady consistency which eventually left the visitors gasping for breath, at 19-3.
Garth Garvey (0), fell LBW to Shepherd off the fourth ball in the innings, while Trevon Griffith (5) went in similar fashion to Paul, at the end of the fourth over.
Fudadin was given a reprieve on two, when wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble could not hold on to a difficult chance off Shepherd, but Paul further complicated the tourists’ crisis when he had Brandon King caught at cover for ten.
Fudadin and fellow left-hander Paul Palmer, both survived until lunch, with the visitors 37-3.

Upon resumption, the pair gave the Scorpions a brief glimmer of hope with a fourth-wicket stand of 57 before the hosts’ left-arm spinners polished off the last seven wickets. Motie complemented Permaul, with figures of 1-7 off nine overs.
But despite the Jamaicans falling 18 runs short of avoiding the follow-on target of 116, skipper Leon Johnson decided not to enforce it and batted again.
The Jaguars’ openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Test discard Rajendra Chandrika batted determinedly and were focused on occupying the crease upfront, but as the final session progressed, the pair gradually began to open up, calmly, without taking any undue risks.
But after hitting five fours and a six in his 41-ball knock, Chandrika, the West Indies reject was finally dismissed when he was caught behind off left-arm wrist spinner Dennis Bulli (2-32), for 35.

Chanderpaul Hemraj joined Chanderpaul, and the left-handed pair took the score to 85 before the Jamaicans enjoyed further success just before the close.
Chanderpaul after occupying the crease for 76 minutes, facing 74 balls with three boundaries, was trapped LBW to spinner, Fabian Allen (1-4), while Hemraj was bowled by Damani Sewell (1-35), for 17.
Motie, who was promoted up the order to perform the night watchman duty was dismissed off the last ball in the penultimate over, caught at the wicket off Bulli for nine. However, Yadram joined Johnson and negotiated the final over of play.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Jaguars 1st innings (Overnight 258-8)
T Chanderpaul c Palmer b Bulli 14
R Chandrika c wk Morrison b Green 25
C Hemraj c Garvey B Sewell 60
L Johnson b Sewell 20
B Yadram b Bulli 0
A Bramble c Fudadin b Dawes 62
K Paul c wk Morrison b Green 12
S Rutherford b Sewell 45
R Shepherd not out not 22
V Permaul c wk Morrison b Green 3
G Motie c Garvey b Green 0
Extras: (w-1, b-1, nb-1) 3
Total: (all out; 96 overs) 266
Fall of Wickets: 1-38, 2-51, 3-96, 4-101, 5-132, 6-150, 7-233, 8-251, 9-266, 10-266
Bowlers: Dawes 16-8-37-1, Green 21-2-63-4, Sewell 28-9-69-3, Bulli 18.4-2-52-2, Allen 12-0-41-0, Fudadin 0.2-0-3-0

Jamaica Scorpions 1st innings
T Griffith lbw b Paul 5
G Garvey lbw b Shepherd 0
A Fudadin lbw b Permaul 39
B King c Chanderpaul b Paul 10
P Palmer c Chanderpaul b Permaul 31
F Allen lbw b Permaul 0
R Morrision b Permal 0
D Bulli c wk Bramble b Motie 2
D Sewell not out 6
D Green c Rutherford b Permaul 4
J Dawes lbw b Permaul 0
Extras: (w-1, nb-1) 2
Total: (all out; 48.5 overs) 99
Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-19, 4-76, 5-87, 6-87, 7-88, 8-98, 9-99, 10-99
Bowlers: Shepherd 9-2-29-1, Paul 6-0-20-2, Permaul 19.5-10-29-6, Rutherford 7-2-14-0, Motie 9-7-7-1
Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings
T Chanderpaul lbw b Allen 33
R Chandrika c wk Morrison b Bulli 35
C Hemraj b Sewell 17
L Johnson not out 11
G Motie c wk Morrison b Bulli 9
Extra: (b-1) 1
Total: (four wickets; 31 overs) 106
Fall of Wickets: 1-53, 2-85, 3-89, 4-106
Bowlers: Dawes 3-1-6-0, Green 4-0-21-0, Garvey 3-0-6-0, Sewell 12-5-35-1, Bulli 7-0-32-2, Allen 2-0-4-1