A DOMINANT Guyana Jaguars proved too strong for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, as they won the fifth round Regional Four-Day Championship fixture by ten wickets yesterday at Guyana National Stadium, Providence.A handful of die-hard spectators watched as the tourists were bowled out for 235 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul again the principal tormenter, claiming 5-53, to earn match figures of 9-84.
Fast bowler Keon Joseph (2-38), left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (2-92), and left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer (1-29), all complemented Permaul, in a disciplined bowling effort for the two-time defending champions.
Jaguars, meanwhile, collected 20.6 points to move to 67.4 points, clinching their first victory since the opening round when they crushed Jamaica Scorpions.
The Jaguars had been given a victory target of just 20 runs after they established a first-innings lead of 216 on Sunday.
The two openers Rajendra Chandrika (4 not out) and Shimron Hetmyer (17 not out) overhauled the target in just 2.4 overs to complete the match, which was dominated throughout by the Guyana Jaguars.
Starting the day with 120 runs behind the Jaguars’ first-innings total of 378, the visitors progressed from their overnight 96-2, to 112 before rain interrupted proceedings, after 3.3 overs in the day’s play.
Opener Kyle Hope, who showed enough resilience to stay put at the wicket when play ended on the third day, added ten runs to his overnight total, including two sweetly-timed boundaries off Joseph, while nightwatchman Khery Pierre was on five.
After 64 minutes, the game restarted. Skipper Leon Johnson introduced spin at both ends. However, the ploy brought immediate success as Motie sent back Pierre (5) off the third ball of his spell, as Johnson held on to a straightforward catch at first slip.
Jason Mohammed joined Hope, and stalled the hosts’ progress for the next 15.3 overs, with Mohammed the more attacking of the pair, striking an array of boundaries.
With the duo in command at the crease, Joseph returned for another spell and finally broke the promising 35-run stand when the 28-year-old Hope was caught at midwicket by Hetmyer from a miscued pull, ten minutes before lunch.
The right-hander occupied the crease for 237 minutes, faced 189 balls and struck three fours and a six off Permaul in his 40.
When play resumed 20 minutes into the post-lunch session, Mohammed, in company of Yannic Cariah collected a couple of boundaries off Motie, but his innings was shortlived when he was caught at the wicket off Reifer for 36. He faced 66 balls, with four fours and a six.
Cariah and Yannick Ottley took the total to 207 before the left-hander Cariah, who stroked four boundaries in his 27 was trapped leg-before wicket to Permaul.
It quickly became 221-8 with Ottley taken at the wicket, off Permaul for 21, and Roshon Primus was removed by Motie for 11.
Permaul mopped up the innings with the wickets of Marlon Richards and Steven Katwaroo. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was named man-of-the-match for his first-innings 143.
Scores in the match: Guyana Jaguars 378 &21; T&T Red Force 162 & 235.
The tournament takes a long break for the Christmas/New Year’s holidays before the Regional Super50 Tournament sets in.
SCOREBOARD
T&T Red Force 2nd innings
K. Hope c Hetmyer b Joseph 40
I. Khan lbw b Joseph 3
I. Rajah c wkp. Bramble b Permaul 63
K. Pierre c Johnson b Motie 5
J. Mohammed c wkp. Bramble b Reifer 36
Y. Cariah lbw b Permaul 27
Y. Ottley c wkp. Bramble b Permaul 21
R. Primus c T. Chanderpaul b Motie 11
S. Katwaroo c wkp. Bramble b Permaul 7
M. Richards c Hetmyer b Permaul 7
JR Jagessar not out 0
Extras: (nb-10, w-1, lb-1, b-4) 16
Total: (all out, 95 overs) 235
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-96, 3-112, 4-147,5-168, 6-207, 7-216, 8-221, 9-228.
Bowlers: Joseph 14-4-38-2, Reifer 9-0-29-1, Motie 36-11-92-2, Barnwell 6-1-7-0, Permaul 38-10-53-5, Johnson 2-0-10-0.
GUYANA Jaguars 2nd innings
R. Chandrika not out 4
S. Hetymer not out 17
Total: (no wickets, 2.4 overs) 21
Bowlers: Jagessar 1-0-15-0, Cariah 1-0-1-0, Rajah 0.4-0-5-0.
Results: Guyana Jaguars won by 10 wickets.