GUYANA and West Indies opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika recorded his maiden First-Class century, which laid a firm foundation for the Guyana Jaguars on the opening day of the 2015-2016 season of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-day Tournament against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.At the Guyana National Stadium the Jaguars reached 287-4 from 94 overs at stumps, after winning the toss and taking first strike. Chandrika’s unbeaten 140 was constructed in six hours, as he faced 310 balls, 21 of which were dispatched to the boundary.
He played an impressive innings with well–timed shots that entertained the sprinkling of spectators, while Leon Johnson, Vishal Singh and Shivnarine Chanderpaul resolutely supported the 27-year-old in three solid partnerships.
This put Guyana in a good position to get a big score going into the second day, with Chris Barnwell and Anthony Bramble yet to come.
On the other side of the battle, off-spinner Shane Shillingford endured the fight for 28 overs and claimed 3 for 75 runs.
The first session belonged to the home side. They produced a solid 120-2 from 30 overs at lunch. Chandrika had just brought up his 50 in 87 deliveries while Singh was unbeaten on 23.
Captain Johnson had mentioned on the eve of this match, the need to convert good starts into big scores. However, he nicked one to second slip when on 29, in Shane Shillingford’s second over, thus ending the 48-run partnership with the score on 75-2,.
When the innings started, Assad Fudadin (4) was the first to depart with the score on 27 when his forward defence was breached by Kyle Mayers, as the ball squeezed between bat-and-ground to dislodge his wicket.
In the second session, Chandrika became more watchful after he was gifted a chance on 53, dropped by Kenny Lesporis in second slip, while Singh continued his natural cautious game, giving the opposition no chance of removing him.
As the match progressed, the pair brought up their 100-run third-wicket partnership, but four runs later Singh (48) was trapped leg-before-wicket by Shillingford, as the score rolled over to 179-3. Singh was the only batsman to fall in the second session as his team scored 86 runs.
That brought the 41-year-old former West Indian captain to the middle and he, along with Chandrika, pushed the score to 206-3 at tea. Chandrika was then unbeaten on 91 and Chanderpaul had a patient 13.
After tea, Guyana added 81 runs for the loss of one wicket while Chandrika carefully approached triple digits, alongside a man who already has 71 first-class centuries under his belt. Chandrika’s 102t was achieved off 217 deliveries in four hours and 22 minutes.
Shillingford then dealt a big blow when he trapped Chanderpaul (34) with the score on 259. Coming down to the close of play, Chandrika accelerated his scoring while Raymon Reifer was unbeaten on 11 before stumps were drawn.
The match continues today from 09:30hrs.
GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings
A. Fudadin b Mayers 4
R. Chandrika not out 140
L. Johnson c Smith b Shillingford 29
V. Singh lbw Shillingford 48
S. Chanderpaul c Smith b Shillingford 34
R. Reifer not out 10
Extras: 21
Total: (for 4 wkts) 287
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2–75, 3-179, 4-259.
Bowling: M. Matthew 11-6-18-0, K. Peters 13.3-0-36-0, S. Shillingford 31-8-87-3, K. Mayers 12-4-44-1, L. Sebastian 18-3-46-0, D. Polius 9-1-36-0.
Points to date: Jaguars 2, Volcanoes 1.

By Kizan Brumell