–Chanderpaul lauds team batting spirit despite narrow loss

By Clifton Ross
IT was a dramatic end to an early morning of action as Jamaica Scorpions bowled their way to one of the most upsetting, yet courageous wins, over defending champs Guyana Jaguars who lost their way by a mere 7 runs.

The Final day at Providence was mixed with emotions after Guyana were left clinging on for dear life at 155-9 when day 3 ended, with Anthony Bramble ending innings number 2 as the top-scorer with 32.

The home team failed to pull off what would have been a daring heist, being restricted to 174 all out in their second innings; thanks in part to the failures of their top and middle-order batsmen.

The instrument of the Jaguars demise was the lanky debutant spinner and Man-of-the-match, Peat Salmon, who grabbed 7-57, all of which came in the latter half of the penultimate day.

It was a rather heroic effort from the last pair of Veerasammy Permaul and Keon Joseph, who, for the last session of day 3 and the hour of play on the final day, provided the most entertainment.

Permaul scored a defiant 28 from 101 balls with 2 fours while the pacer, Joseph, showed application and grit for a number 11 as he chipped in with 11, batting for hours in an attempt to rescue the champs.

The pair survived a number of scares but remained firm throughout the hard times. Both batsmen were keen to negate deliveries and deny possible wicket-costing runs, which in the end might have been another reason they came up short.

After no inroads were made by Salmon and company on day 4, the wearing of the ball made way for the introduction of seamer Derval Green (1-14) who put the final nail in the coffin two delivers into his first over.

The celebrations were taken to the dressing room where the last placed team celebrate beating the defending champions and table-leaders in their own back-yard, to possibly get their momentum going this season.

The last wicket stand of 49 was crucial to the Jags response and following the match, batting coach Shivnarine Chanderpaul told Chronicle Sports that he was proud of the effort as it showed the Champs are slowly becoming an 11-man team capable of producing runs down to the last batter.

Guyana will now fix their attention on the Windward Volcanoes who they face in the next round.