HOSTS Guyana Jaguars met with unexpected resistance in the final session of the third day of the fifth round Regional Four-Day Championship fixture against Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Force, with a 93-run second-wicket stand between opener Kyle Hope and Isaiah Rajah.However, they were still 120 runs behind, and it will take a collective team performance to make the two-time defending champions bat again, let alone avoid defeat in the final day.
Faced with a huge first innings deficit of 216, the tourists were 96-2 in their second innings at stumps, after they lost the 23-year-old Rajah in the day’s final over for 63.
Hope is still at the wicket on 20,along with night watchman Khery Pierre, who is yet to score.
Earlier, the start of play was delayed by 75 minutes because of overnight and early morning showers, which were consistent and brisk.
However, when the game eventually got under way, the visitors were quick to make up for the lost time. In the five-over spell during the morning session, the visitors removed veteran left-handed batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Veerasammy Permaul.
Chanderpaul added two to his overnight score of 141 before he edged a routine catch to Yannick Ottley at first slip off leg-spinner Imran Khan. The 42-year-old innings spanned 311 minutes and he faced 231 deliveries and struct 14 fours and a six.

Anthony Bramble resumed on 18 and was quickly into his stride, belting left-arm spinner Khery Pierre for a massive six before Permaul (2) edged Pierre to Jason Mohammed at first slip, when the weather intervened again at 10:37hrs.
After the lengthy stoppage, play resumed at 12:42hrs.Khan, who finished with figures of 4-77, and Pierre (3-49)picked up the final two wickets,that of Bramble 33, and Gudakesh Motie two.
Starting their second innings with a deficit of 216 runs, the visitors managed to bat a single over before another sharp shower sent the players off the field.
Because of the showers in the post-lunch session, the umpires took an early tea. Upon resumption the intermittent spells of rain also ensured there was enough moisture on the surface for the bowlers to procure some movement.
Keon Joseph, especially, made good use of it, and immediately trapped Khan leg before wicket for three.
Thereafter,the hosts allowed a steady stream of runs, with Hope and Rajah at the wicket. The right and left-hand combination displayed a measure of grit, with Rajah the more attacking of the two batsmen.
The left-handed Rajah batted superbly in getting to his fifty,with seven fours and a six in 155 minutes at the crease. However, he was trapped leg before wicket to Permaul in the closing stage of the day’s play. His innings spanned 116 balls, 141 minutes and included eight fours and a six.He is the son of the former Trinidad & Tobago batsman Aneil Raja.
On the other hand, the 28-year-old Hope played a more measured innings, and has so far faced 123 balls, in 156 minutes at the crease. Play will resume today at 09:00hrs, with the visitors 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 c Ottley b Khan 143
C Barnwell lbw b K Pierre 3
R Reifer lbw b Khan 38
A Bramble c Hope b Khan 33
V Permaul c Mohammed b Pierre 2
G Motie st Katwaroo b Pierre 2
K Joseph not out 0
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, 7-369, 8-374, 9-378, 10-378
Total: (all out; 108.2 overs) 378
Bowling: Richards 13-3-54-1, Primus 9-0-43-0, Jaggesar 28-7-99-1, Khan 24-1-77-4, Mohammed 15-2-44-1, Pierre 19.2-1-49-1

T&T RED FORCE 2nd innings
K Hope not out 20
I Khan lbw b Joseph 3
I Rajah c wk Bramble b Permaul 63
K Pierre not out 0
Extras: (nb-4, w-1, b-4, lb-1) 10
Total: (for two wickets; 41 overs) 96
Fall of Wickets: 1-3, 2-96
Bowling: Joseph 7-3-21-1, Reifer 3-0-8-0, Motie 15-5-40-0, Barnwell 5-1-6-0, Permaul 9-6-6-1, Johnson 2-0-10-0