TALENTED Essequibo all-rounder Keemo Paul justified his reputation as one of the bright young talents of Guyana’s cricket with a fabulous maiden first-class hundred to leave the Jamaica Scorpions facing a mountainous task to avoid defeat in round one of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day game against hosts Guyana Jaguars.

At stumps on Saturday’s third day at the Guyana National Stadium, the visitors lost both openers cheaply to suffer a major setback, and hand the hosts’ complete control.
The Jaguars declared their second innings at 315-8, leaving the Jamaicans the task of surviving four sessions or chasing down 483 for victory. But they were further undermined by the quick departures of Garth Garvey (13) and Trevon Griffith (10), to close on 61-2, still a further 422 runs behind.
Assad Fudadin is unbeaten on 11 with Brandon King on 22.

Earlier, Paul’s 107 came off 129 balls,  with 149 minutes at the crease, and striking 12 fours and four sixes. His innings stretched the three-times defending champions’ dominance as they were able to press home further advantage.  Paul shared a 72-run partnership with Captain Leon Johnson (50), to propel the Jaguars’ to an unassailable lead.
Resuming at 106-4, the hosts lost overnight batsman Bhaskar Yadram in the fourth over of the day, bowled by left-arm wrist spinner Dennis Bulli after scoring just one. The Jaguars had just added eight runs to their overnight total when they lost the inexperienced Yadram.
However, Johnson in company of wicket-keeper batsman Anthony Bramble then consolidated the lead to a sizeable 304 by adding 43 for the sixth-wicket, before Bulli was rewarded for a better length and more consistency when he trapped Bramble leg before wicket for a 35-ball 26. Bramble’s innings had two fours and a six.
Paul joined forces with Johnson and the pair  dominated play with a 54-run stand before the interval. Johnson, who continued playing a stubborn knock was unbeaten on 41 at the break while Paul was on 32, with the Jaguars holding a position of authority with an overall lead of 368 at lunch.

However, Paul extended his dominance into the second session, cutting the first ball off pacer Jason Dawes to the backward point boundary before smashing Derval Green straight down the ground for another four.
Johnson, meanwhile, was careful at the other end, and continued to show calm and poise.
His fifty came from his 141st delivery with a pull through midwicket for four off Green, but after facing four additional deliveries, and after occupying the crease for 204 minutes, the left-hander departed when he edged Green behind for wicket-keeper Romaine Morrison to complete a regulation catch.

Soon after Paul brought up an 89-ball half-century, but then took  only 34 more deliveries to reach his century, with 11 fours and four sixes.
Under pressure from Paul’s barnstorming stroke play, the tourists’ bowlers were devoid of confidence and ideas and were smashed all around the ground before Paul was bowled by Bulli. Paul’s wicket completed Bulli’s five-wicket haul, (5-104).
Sherfane Rutherford (16*) and Romario Shepherd (11*), batted to the tea break when the declaration was made.

With 34 overs remaining in the final session, Griffith and Garth Garvey added 23 for the first wicket before left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul had Garvey caught at first slip. Two runs later, Griffith was caught at mid-on off Rutherford.
However, Fudadin and King survived to the close and will resume today, hoping to put up a much more concerted effort than in the first innings, but the visitors still face the prospect of a huge defeat. Play resumes today at 09:30hrs.

SCOREBOARD
GUYANA JAGUARS second innings
T Chanderpaul lbw b Allen 33
R Chandrika c wk Morrison b Bulli 35
C Hemraj b Sewell 17
L Johnson c wk Morrison b Green 50
G Motie c wk Morrison b Bulli 9
B Yadram b Bulli 1
A Bramble lbw b Bulli 26
K Paul b Bulli 107
S Rutherford not out 16
R Shepherd not out 11
Extras: (lb-4, b-2, w-4) 10
Total: (for eight wickets declared; 87 overs) 315
Fall of Wickets: 1-53, 2-85, 3-89, 4-106, 5-114, 6-157, 7-229, 8-298,
Bowlers: Dawes 9-4-16-0, Green 16-3-51-1, Garvey 3-0-6-0, Sewell 29-8-90-1, Bulli 22-1-104-5, Allen 8-0-42-1

JAMAICA SCORPIONS second innings
T Griffith c Yadram b Rutherford 10
G Garvey c Johnson b Permaul 13
A Fudadin not out 11
B King not out 22
Extras: (lb-2, b-3) 5
Total: (two wickets; 34 overs) 61
Fall of Wickets: 1-23, 2-25
Bowlers: Shepherd 5-1-16-0, Paul 5-1-5-0, Motie 8-4-10-0, Permaul 11-3-17-1, Rutherford 4-3-6-1, Johnson 1-0-2-0