PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC) – Sewnarine Chattergoon was eyeing his fifth first-class hundred for Guyana, after Kevin Stoute and Ryan Hinds batted Barbados into a first-innings lead in the WICB regional four-day competition yesterday.

West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon was unbeaten on 72, as Guyana, trailing the Barbadians by 62 runs on first innings, reached 167 for three in their second innings at the close on the third day of the 14th and final round match at the Guyana National Stadium.

This followed sound batting from Stoute and Hinds, after they added 239 for the fourth wicket, as Barbados were dismissed for 396, in reply to Guyana’s first innings total of 334.

Stoute, on 104 overnight, struck 24 fours and two sixes in 186 from 258 balls in just over six hours of batting.

A sprinkling of spectators saw Hinds join Runako Morton and Floyd Reifer with three centuries this season with an even 100, after hitting 14 fours from 191 balls in close to 4-1/2 hours, before he was caught at long-on off leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo, who finished with four wickets for 125 runs from 33.3 overs.

Stoute was eventually caught at mid-off off Permaul, as Barbados lost their last seven wickets for 81 runs, and were bowled out just after lunch.

Stoute, who was again affected by cramps, tried to manipulate the strike, as he attempted to convert his second hundred at this level in a double-hundred as none of the last six Barbadian batsmen reached double figures on a flat pitch and fast outfield.

Jason Holder was lbw to Bishoo for seven, and Carlo Morris suffered the same fate when he fell, off Esaun Crandon for two.

Nikolai Charles was caught at slip off medium pacer Chris Barnwell for nine, Bishoo bowled Kemar Roach for the same score, and Tino Best was caught and bowled for a duck off left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who ended the innings when he bowled Shane Ramsay.

Chattergoon then began Guyana’s reply with three commanding boundaries off Kemar Roach, and Christopher Barnwell also smashed the fast bowler to the point boundary before savagely pulling him through mid-wicket.

The openers provided Guyana with an opening stand of 56, but Barnwell was bowled by Holder for 21 on the stroke of tea.

After the break, Chattergoon and fellow left-hander Assad Fudadin added 76 for the second wicket before Guyana lost two wickets in three balls to slip to 132 for three.

Fudadin, who played an array of delightful shots, including two straight hits for sixes off spinners Charles and Ramsay in 42, was lbw to Stoute – bowling his stiff medium-pace – for the second time in the match.

Stoute, who swung the ball prodigiously, was also very fortunate, when Gajanand Singh was caught behind for a duck, as Barbados struck twice in one over.

After a torrid time against Stoute, debutant Vishal Singh survived the rest of the session, and with Chattergoon saw Guyana to the close without further loss.