Volcanoes facing uphill task after forced to follow-on

FOUR-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars continued their dominance for the third consecutive day, leaving Windward Islands Volcanoes with the ominous task of surviving today’s final day of their fourth round Cricket West Indies Regional Four-day encounter.
Forced to follow-on, the visiting side batted with more purpose in their second innings to reach 167-3 at stumps on the penultimate day of the match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Seamers Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford bore their responsibilities manfully and frugally, claiming a wicket apiece.
The experienced Devon Smith made a resolute 65 but captain Kirk Edwards and Kavem Hodge were left unbeaten on 40 and three respectively. The Volcanoes are still 78 runs behind.

Earlier, Paul claimed his third five-wicket haul to trigger Volcanoes’ batting collapse that saw them concede a huge first-innings lead of 245 runs.
It was a clear indication that the tourists’ batsmen had no answers to Paul’s accurate seam-bowling, resulting in the 20-year-old ending with figures of 6-57 from 17 overs. Fellow pacer Shepherd claimed 2-47 while left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took 2-38.

Overnight batsmen Alick Athanaze and Denis Smith offered some resistance with the bat but their efforts were cut short, and they were eventually dismissed for 209 in 64.1 overs, prompting Jaguars to enforce the follow-on.
The left-hander Athanaze top-scored with a gritty 66 for Volcanoes, who started the day on 99-5 in response to Jaguars’ mammoth 454-9 declared.

Athanaze shared a 90-run sixth-wicket partnership with Denis Smith, who made 37. The pair countered with a flurry of boundaries early in the morning session but when the partnership was broken, the innings came to rapid end.
Smith hit six fours in his 93-ball 37, before he edged Shepherd to Leon Johnson at first slip. Paul, who had jolted Volcanoes batting with four wickets late on day two, struck his first blow in the morning session, when he had Larry Edwards caught and bowled for one, to complete his five-wicket haul.

Shepherd then had Athanaze caught at the wicket to end his 114-ball innings where he struck 11 fours and a six, leaving Volcanoes at 186-8. Paul was again in the act when he bowled Shermon Lewis for four while Permaul claimed the final wicket of Josh Thomas (4), during the extended half-an-hour of play. Ray Jordan remained unbeaten on 18.
Batting a second time, Devon Smith and Taryck Gabriel (16) put together 34 for the first wicket before the latter was caught at the wicket off Rutherford.

The left-handed Smith formed the next alliance with Roland Cato as they waged a second-wicket stand battle to add respectability to the contest.
The partnership flourished for a while with the second-wicket stand stretched to 76 before Cato, who faced 64 balls and struck five boundaries in his 36, was taken at the wicket off Paul.

Volcanoes captain joined forces with the 37-year-old Smith, who immediately brought up his fifty. However, the 28-run stand was unfortunately broken when Smith was given caught-behind off Shepherd. His innings lasted for 128 balls with eight fours.
There were no further casualties, but on a pitch that is expected to be more variable in bounce during today’s final day, the tourists will be hard-pressed to produce a rearguard.

JAGUARS 1st Innings 454 for nine declared
Volcanoes 1st Innings
(overnight 99 for five)
DS Smith c Griffith b Paul 17
T Gabriel c and b Permaul 23
R Cato c Griffith b Paul 14
*K Edwards c Griffith b Paul 4
K Hodge c wkpr Bramble b Paul 0
A Athanaze c wkpr Bramble b Shepherd 66
+DDH Smith c Johnson b Shepherd 37
L Edward c and b Paul 1
S Lewis b Paul 4
R Jordan not out 18
J Thomas lbw b Permaul 4
Extras (b1, lb6, nb14) 21
TOTAL (all out, 64.1 overs) 209
Fall of wickets:1-38, 2-56, 3-63, 4-63, 5-81, 6-171, 7-178, 8-186, 9-186
Bowling:Pestano 13-4-46-0 (nb4); Shepherd 11-2-47-2; Johnson 1-0-4-0; Paul 17-3-57-6 (nb10); Permaul 18.1-8-38-2; Motie 4-1-10-0

VOLCANOES 2nd Innings (following on)
T Gabriel c wkpr Bramble b Rutherford 16
DS Smith c wkpr Bramble b Shepherd 65
R Cato c wkpr Bramble b Paul 36
*K Edwards not out 40
K Hodge not out 3
Extras (lb4, w1, nb2) 7
TOTAL (3 wkts, 58 overs) 167
Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-110, 3-138
Bowling: Paul 6-1-29-1; Shepherd 10-2-17-1 (w1); Pestano 9-1-20-0; Rutherford 9-3-14-1 (nb2); Motie 11-0-37-0; Permaul 13-2-46-0
Position: Volcanoes trail by 78 with seven second innings wickets standing