West Indies Test stalwart Shivnarine Chanderpaul, produced a batting masterclass and piloted the Guyana Jaguars into the history record books by becoming the first-ever franchise team to advance to the WICB NAGICO Super50 final which is carded for Sunday at the famous Queen’s Park oval.In the first ever semi-final of the professional era of Limited Overs cricket, Chanderpaul was the mainstay of the batting and registered a match-winning unbeaten 98 that was studded with six fours off 145 balls.
He was admirable supported by Royston Crandon who was also undefeated on an attractive 45 (51 balls, 3x4s, 1×6) when the Jaguars romped to a heart-warming six-wicket over the Jamaica Franchise at the QP Oval in their day-night fixture that was partially affected by rainy conditions.
The Chanderpaul-Crandon tandem fashioned an unbroken 99-run fifth wicket partnership that carried the Jaguars to189 for 4 off 48.1 overs, with 11 balls remaining. It was sweet victory and a nice way to bounce back after the loss to CCC Marooners in their final Zone A match.
After being set a victory target of 189 in 50 overs; Chanderpaul, who opened the batting alongside Rajendra Chandrika (5); displayed the tenacity, temperament, technique, mental fortitude and stamina to fashion a famous victory for the Guyana Jaguars who will contest the final against the winner of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force versus Combined Campuses an Colleges (CCC) Marooners who are scheduled to contest the second semi-final today at the same venue from 13:30hrs.
Vishaul Singh, one of the two replacement players from the last Zonal match; joined Chanderpaul after Chandrika was LBW for 5 and the score 17 for 1.
Together they redress the early setback and featured in a 59-run second wicket partnership.
However, Singh, who had replaced opener Trevon Griffith and looked good until he got a brain wave and gifted his wicket away, comprehensively bowled by John Campbell who immediately struck another crucial blow by forcing Raymon Reifer to offer a simple return catch off the very first ball received after he had replaced Singh. Clearly, a very casual approach brought about their downfall.
Not too long after, Campbell added another prized scalp to his name when the Jaguars captain Christopher Barnwell played across the line of a well-flighted off-spinning delivery that he missed and was struck on the back foot. Umpire Brathwaite, in his own slow-motion style; sent Barnwell back to the pavilion for six runs.
But “Mr Stonewall” Chanderpaul continued to upstage all his junior counterparts with a studious and calculated innings that marked his 94th List A half-century in his 402nd career match. The 40-year-old, who also has twelve List A centuries; brought up his fifty came off 91 balls and included four fours.
He was joined by Royston Crandon and the Jaguars were 107 for 4 when the second batting powerplay started after 35 overs.
At that stage, they required 82 runs from 90 balls and Crandon soon stroked the ball with confidence and power and they carried the Guyana Jaguars home to victory.

Earlier, the Jamaica openers Nkrumah Bonner and John Campbell set a solid foundation with an encouraging 51-run first wicket partnership.
But a terrible mix-up and the run out of Bonner by an alert Shivnarine Chanderpaul allowed the Jaguars to claw their way back into the game.
Campbell was LBW to Steven Jacobs and dismissals were on the same score but in the 15.2 overs and 16.3 overs respectively.
Veerasammy Permaul once again proved his worth as the Jaguars most penetrative bowler and prised out WI Test Jermaine Blackwood, adjudged plumb infront for a solitary run and four balls later removed the dangerous Danza Hyatt for nought, caught by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble.
The Jaguars were in control when another rainy condition temporarily halt the proceedings with the Jamaicans struggling at 63 for 4 off 24 overs.
However, any notion of a quick demise by the Jamaicans were dispelled by Horace Miller, who enjoyed a bit of good fortune; and he rallied the lower order with useful partnerships. He smashed one six and seven fours off 79 balls and finished as their topscorer with 64 runs.
Jamaica recovered from 79 for 5 off 29.2 overs to add a further 109 runs from 21.4 overs as their innings closed at 188 for 9.
Damion Jacobs (10 no.) and Marquino Mindley (11 no.) pushed the score from 171 for 9 to 188 for the same 9 off the allotted 50 overs.
Albion CCC spin-twins Permaul and Bishoo were once again the Jaguars successful bowlers with 3 for 38 and 3 for 33 respectively.
The Jaguars have restored confidence and will be boosted in their quest for Guyana’s tenth regional 50-overs crown.
Captions: Shivnarine Chanderpaul drives through the off-side in his unbeaten 98 at the Queen’s Park Oval last night.
Royston Crandon pulls to leg in his unbeaten 45.

By Brij Parasnath
In Trinidad & Tobago