Jaguars ride on Chanderpaul’s unbeaten ton

THE second day of the fifth round Regional Four-Day Championship fixture between hosts Guyana Jaguars and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force uniquely belonged to the implacable veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

At the National Stadium, Providence,yesterday, the 42-year-old Chanderpaul, the oldest player in the Jaguars’ line-up showed the younger men around him the big difference between batting and scoring runs, when he carved out an unbeaten 141.
Chanderpaul walked out at No.5 and very early sent out his own distinct signal of how to be the controller of a situation.

Guyana,the two-time defending champions ,closed the day on 357, a healthy first innings lead of 195, largely due to Chanderpaul’s second consecutive century in the tournament and his 73rd First-class ton, and 69 from skipper Leon Johnson.
The West Indies most capped Test player has so far batted for 292 minutes, faced 221 balls and struct 14 boundaries and a six. Anthony Bramble is unbeaten on 18, and was partnering Chanderpaul when bails were lifted.

Chanderpaul and Johnson batted determinedly after the Jaguars lost three wickets in the morning session to share a fourth-wicket stand of 149.
Resuming at 9-0, Test opener Rajendra Chandrika started the day’s play in style when he stroke Marlon Richards to the extra cover boundary, but he unnecessarily swiped half-heartedly at the next delivery, which pitched just outside the off-stump and held its line to kiss the edge of the bat to wicket-keeper Steven Katwaroo.The 27-year-old Chandrika, who has five Tests to his credit, made 12;another disappointing display with the bat.
Fellow opener Shimron Hetmyer along with Johnson joined forces and the intention was clear from the 19-year-old Hetmyer. He dominated the 32-run partnership,hitting five boundaries along with a six off of spinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar.

However, Hetymer fell victim to his own ultra aggressive style, pulling a long hop to short mid-wicket off Jaggesar. He made 31 off 27 balls.
In some bother at 45-2, the hosts rebounded through Johnson and Vishaul Singh, who put together 49 for the third-wicket before leg-spinner Imran Khan changed the tone of the innings, when he trapped Singh leg before wicket for 26.
With conditions far better, the pitch far truer, Johnson and Chanderpaul made the most of it to ensure the hosts kept their foot firmly on the visitors’ throat.Lunch was taken with Guyana on 137 – 3, with Chanderpaul on 29 and Johnson on 28. After the interval the pair picked their battles shrewdly. Both batsmen played freely and gradually began to open up without taking any undue risks.

They eventually took the hosts past the Red Force’s first innings score of 162 before Chanderpaul’s 76-ball half-century came up with his seventh four, when he lifted Jaggesar straight over his head to reach his 136th fifty in First-class cricket.
Johnson then blasted a six off the same bowler to bring up his half-century off 143 balls.
The left-handed duo continued to frustrate the visitors and during that period, Captain Yannick Ottley began shuffling his spinners. There was not much turn or bounce on offer, and nothing threatened the two well-set batsmen.

Johnson then smashed left-arm spinner Khery Pierre for a four and six, but perished soon after when he stepped out to loft Jason Mohammed to the long-off boundary. Roshon Primus completed a well-judged catch, which ended Johnson’s 190-ball innings.
The 29-year-old batted for 250 minutes and hit eight boundaries and two sixes.
Christopher Barnwell went cheaply when he was trapped leg before to Pierre, but Raymond Reifer gave Chanderpaul good support in another productive stand of 89, with both batsmen collecting some easy boundaries.

During that period Chanderpaul reached his century off 163 balls. However, Reifer’s 74-ball innings came to an end when he was trapped leg before wicket to Khan for 38. The 32-year-old Khan was the most successful bowler for the visitors, with 2-70.
Anthony Bramble joined Chanderpaul and the pair batted to the close. Play resumes at 09:00hrs today, with the Red Force facing an uphill task.

SCOREBOARD
GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings
R Chandrika c wk Katwaroo b Richards 12
S Hetmyer c Carriah b Jaggesar 31
L Johnson c Primus b Mohammed 69
V Singh lbw b Khan 26
S Chanderpaul not out 141
C Barnwell lbw b K Pierre 3
R Reifer lbw b Khan 38
A Bramble not out 18
Extras: (nb-7, w-1, b-8, lb-3) 19
Fall of Wickets: 1-13, 2-45, 3-94, 4-235, 5-243, 6-332
Total: (for six wickets; 101 overs) 357
Bowling: Richards 13-3-53-1, Primus 8-0-33-0, Jaggesar 28-7-99-1, Khan 20-1-70-2, Mohammed 15-2-44-1, Pierre 17-2-47-1