FROM a position of 86-6, West Berbice closed on 179-9, responding to East Coast first-innings total of 143, on the opening day in their Round four fixture in the Jaguars Franchise League three-day cricket tournament at Bush Lot, Berbice.

Keon Joseph and Steven Harris will resume today on 27 and 2 respectively, with the hosts leading by 36 runs.
Earlier, it was a superb bowling effort by the hosts, as the visitors’ batsmen fell to careless strokes after they were put into bat. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (4-25) and fast

bowler Joseph (3-32), were the main destroyers.
The visitors managed a decent 31-run opening stand between Test reject Rajandra Chandrika and Brian Sattuar, but after the partnership was broken, their batsmen formed a procession back to the dressing-room, despite a few of them getting starts.
New-ball bowlers Joseph and Harris (1-28) provided the first two breakthroughs before the spinners got in on the act on a lively wicket. The East Coast Franchise were reduced to 134-8 at lunch, a position from which they never recovered.
Harris removed Sattuar (13), before Joseph claimed the wicket of Chandrika (14), four runs later.

Bhaskar Yadram and Chanderpaul Hemraj made 21 and 19 respectively before Motie picked up both batsmen in quick succession.
Things went further downhill for the visitors when Andrew Dutchin (2-49) removed Joshua Persaud (10), but at that point former national youth batsman Kamesh Yadram showed significant resilience, hitting five fours in his 36 before he, along with Ramnarine Chaturia (1), and Ameer Khan (16), were dismissed before the interval.
Motie removed Chaturia while Dutchin and Joseph claimed the wickets of Yadram and Khan.

Upon resumption, Joseph and Motie quickly wrapped up the innings in 35 overs.
In reply, Test batsman Shimron Hetmyer (24), Aviskhar Sewkarran (29), and Javid Karim (13) were the only batsmen of the first six to reach double figures, as fast bowler Royston Simon and Rudolph Singh created the problems, sharing the first six wickets.
However, Motie (26), and Dutchin (33) then combined and in the process frustrated the visitors.
But just when it seemed like the duo had settled down nicely, the young Yadram removed Motie before Singh claimed his third wicket, that of Dutchin.
Fast bowler Cordel Mars had the other wicket of Quacy McPherson for six.
Meanwhile, Georgetown recorded a mere 117 in 39 overs in their battle against Essequibo at Tuschen. Robin Bacchus made 34, Steven Sankar 22 and Gajanan Suknanan 12.
Anthony Adams took 4-33, Keemo Paul and Ricardo Adams both claimed three wickets for 29 and 38 respectively.
In reply, Essequibo were bowled out for 170 in 51.4 overs, with Paul hitting 43, Kemol Savory 33, Ricardo Adams 44 and Kevin Boodie 22.
Bowling for Georgetown, Gajnanan Suknanan picked up 6-27, while Ramaal Lewis, Kellon Carmichael, Steven Sankar, and Christopher Barnwell picked up a wicket apiece.
Upper Corentyne closed the day on 267-7 against West Demerara at Port Mourant.
At Young Warriors, Lower Corentyne made 148 batting first. East Bank in reply were 132-8.
Play resumes at 09:30hrs today at all four venues.