IN their opening day/night match of the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four Day competition at the Darren Sammy National Stadium in St Lucia, the Guyana Jaguars lost the toss and were put in to bat by the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

The Jaguars were bowled out for 223 off the back of a responsible 74 (4x6s) from vice-captain Vishaul Singh who received valuable support from Romario Shepherd who made 47 (3x4s, 1×6). In response, the Volcanoes were on 32-2 at the close of play.

The Volcanoes made early inroads into the Jaguars batting as Tajenarine Chanderpaul was the first to go from the final delivery of the first over for just two runs; He was bowled by pacer  Delorn Johnson.

This brought  the skipper, Leon Johnson to the crease and he, along with opener Trevon Griffith, added 21 before Johnson was run out by Shane Shillingford.

Griffith soon followed, caught off the bowling of Ray Jordan. Newcomer Tevin Imlach then fell to Shillingford, caught and bowled for 8 to leave Guyana in a spot of bother at 56 for 4.

 Christopher Barnwell and Singh then added 31 before the former holed out to Shillingford off the bowling of Johnson with the score at 87. The ever reliable Anthony Bramble came to the crease but was unable to put together an innings of substance as he fell to the bowling of Josh Thomas for just four runs.

At 101-6 and looking in danger of being bowled out for under 200, Singh and Shepherd combined for a seventh wicket partnership of 95 to ensure the Jaguars had a respectable total on the board.

Singh fell to Shillingford at 196 and Sheperd soon followed via a run-out; in all the remaining three wickets tumbled for 27 runs.

 Shillingford was the pick of the Volcanoes’ bowlers, ending with 4-61 off 24.1 overs while Johnson took 2-34 (8 overs); Thomas and Jordan snared one wicket each.

The Jaguars’ bowlers were then made to labour for 14 overs before Clinton Pestano comprehensively bowled opener Tyrone Theophile for 18 and trapped Kirk Edwards LBW for 7.

Taryck Gabriel and Kavem Hodge then saw the Volcanoes safely to the close of play with their side on 32-2.

Pestano ended the day with figures of 2 for 4 off five overs, including two maidens to put the Jaguars in a good position.

 Play will resume today.