ONCE recognised as the best Youth batsman in Guyana, New Line Cavaliers’ (NLC) Gajanand Singh reminded those gathered at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground of his batting ability when he struck a century for the Invitational XI in their drawn three-day practice match against the National team yesterday.

The 23-year-old Singh, who once plied his trade in Berbice where he played for Young Warriors before moving to Demerara to represent the Canal Number Two-based NLC side, struck 19 fours in his 134 as the Invitational XI who resumed on 179-3, were bowled out for 319, 57 minutes after lunch, in reply to their opponents’ first innings score of 444.

With a lead of 125, the National XI who will leave these shores next Tuesday for Antigua where they will engage Trinidad and Tobago in a day/night fixture, opted to bat a second time and were 61-3 when play was called off at 15:00 h.

Resuming at his overnight score of 79, the in-form Singh who added 179 for the fourth wicket with his skipper Leon Johnson (64), reached his ton from 115 balls, hitting 15 of them for four and when he got there, his team were still in the fight on 208-3.

Johnson had started the day on 52, but failed to carry on to the three-figure mark, as he was forced to offer Assad Fudadin a catch at third slip off the lively but wayward Brandon Bess who conceded 72 runs from the 13 overs he was asked to bowl, even though he picked up two wickets.

Dion Ferrier (40) joined Singh after Shemroy Barrington (1) was caught by Travis Dowlin at slip off Narsingh Deonarine (1-63) and they added 63 for the sixth wicket, before Singh went back to a delivery from right-arm leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who ended with 3-51 from 16 overs, and was bowled.

Overall, Singh, who was given another life, the third of his innings by Veerasammy Permaul off Narsingh Deonarine, faced 194 balls hitting 19 fours and when he was dismissed, the Invitational XI, who had put up a stern fight in the first practice game which was also a drawn encounter, were 288-6.

But as is the case with cricket on the local scene as well as in the region, a lower order collapse saw them being bowled out for 319, losing their last five wickets for 94 runs, on a batting track that offered favourable bounce to the fast bowlers who were willing to bend their backs late in the day.

Ferrier had earlier struck Deonarine over wide long on for his lone six, before he was caught by Dowlin off Permaul for his 40 at 315-9, which became 315-8 following the quick demise of Anthony Bramble (0) and even though Wasim Haslim who punched three fours in his 21 fought gallantly at the bottom, it was not sufficient. He was the last man to go, caught by Sewnarine Chattergoon at silly point off Permaul.

All told, the Invitational XI lost their last seven wickets for 140 runs, with Singh and Ferrier contributing 95, while Steven Jacobs’ woes with the bat continued as he fell for 8, caught by Esaun Crandon (2-52) at point off Bishoo.

The small but appreciative crowd, who gathered at the world renowned venue, had something to shout about, when Trevon Garraway (2-32) sent the off stump of West Indies limited overs player Royston Crandon (0) flying off the first delivery of the National XI second innings.

Vishal Singh (16) who opened the batting with Royston Crandon, was joined by the older Crandon in Esaun (11), who punched both Garraway and Christopher Barnwell for four, with his shot off the former being an immaculate one back along the ground off the back foot.

Once again, Vishal Singh was forced to weather a barrage of short balls from both Garraway and Barnwell and, compared to his display in the first innings when he was worked over by Barnwell, he stood tall, even steering Garraway to third man for two fours.

The Invitational XI got the wicket of Esaun Crandon, caught by Rajendra Chandrika at point when he attempted to hit a short delivery from Garraway for four, but only succeeded in lobbing the ball to the fielder, albeit after his back foot drive along the ground for four.

Unfortunately for Singh who is nursing an injured back, it was not Barnwell or Garraway who took his wicket, but Barrington who was entrusted with the ball by Johnson 10 minutes before the close of play and looked the part, extracting lots of bounce out of the wicket.

Singh’s eyes lit up at a short delivery which was pitched outside the off stump, but all he did was to get a touch through to Bramble who accepted the offer gleefully, sparking celebrations amongst his teammates, none more so than from Barrington (1-8).

That was to be the last hurrah for the team, as Bishoo (13*) joined Permaul (22*) who had earlier replaced Esaun Crandon and they added 39 for the fourth wicket, with Bishoo hitting Barrington all along the ground for four, while Permaul took boundaries off Garraway and Krishna Arjune.

No doubt, national coach Ravindranauth Seeram and Cricket Development Officer of the GCB Reon King would have been disappointed with the batting display from both sides, even though Singh and Assad Fudadin got tons.

The key areas they were looking for were occupation and patience and even though the former was there, it was clear that the latter was definitely not, maybe it was recuperating from the festivities and delicacies of the yuletide season, as the batsmen got starts but did not carry on.