Rousing half centuries from Chanderpaul Hemraj and opener Robin Bacchus were the highlights on the first day of the Guyana Jaguars four-day warm-up game at the Everest Cricket Ground as Christopher Barnwell’s XI ended on 273-7 after 86 overs.Batting first,the Barnwell XI batsmen were put on the back foot early by the Vishal Singh- led bowlers with the dismissal of Kandasammy Surujnarine for eight. Surujnarine’s high tempo start with two boundaries was cut short when he was caught by Rajendra Chandrika with the score at 17, giving Raymond Reifer the first of his two wickets yesterday.
The trouble continued as the new-comer Kevin Boodie returned to the pavilion four balls later without scoring after notching a Raun Johnson delivery to wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble.
Tevin Imlach then partnered opener Robin Bacchus with the duo carrying the score to 87 before the former fell for 25,caught behind off Anthony Adams. This brought out Hemraj who joined Bacchus in the center and together they carried the score to 94 before the opener pushed a delivery back to Adams and was caught.
Bacchus’ innings of 51 spanned two hours and 13 minutes and lasted for 74 balls with 4X6. His dismissal brought together the pair of Hemraj and Bhaskar Yadram.
The promising Yadram,who partnered the more senior Hemraj,stroked the ball well as the duo settled the innings, pushing well past the 150 mark before Hemraj was bowled by Pestano.
Hemraj, however,had managed to get over the half century mark and looked well-set when his stumps broke at 65. His innings, laced with 5×4 and 4×6,was paced through approximately one hour and a half and left Yadram and skipper Christopher Barnwell at 181.
Yadram’s innings ended on 33 when he was caught by Pestano off the bowling of Reifer.Johnathon Foo went for 15 which took an hour and 10 minutes and had one boundary and represented the last wicket to fall.
At the close, Barnwell was on 40 not out while his partner, Seon Hetmyer,was on 12.
The wicket-takers for Vishal Singh’s XI were Anthony Adams with 3-90 off 26 overs ,Raymond Reifer 2-15, Raun Johnson 1-39 and Pestano1- 38.
Day two starts at 09:30hrs, today.