–   Jaguars to play Jamaica Scorpions today from 13:30hrs

By Rajiv Bisnauth

GUYANA Jaguars captain Leon Johnson has heaped praise on his team’s death bowling, saying it was one of the reasons why the Jaguars ended as the winning side in match five of the CG Insurance Super50 Cup against Leeward Islands Hurricanes Friday evening at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

The hosts could not capitalise on the strong platform, set up by a first-wicket partnership of 152 between Kieran Powell and Ross Powell, and ended up with 244-9 a below-par score which Jaguars chased down comfortably with five wickets in hand.

“I think the way we came back after the Hurricanes were 152 without loss … but they were still scoring under five, so we knew once we get a wicket or two we will be able to peg them back a little, so the way Motie (Gudakesh) bowled was exceptional, and the way the fast bowlers bowl in the end as well,” Johnson said during the post-match interview.

Motie, the left-arm spinner was introduced in the 31sst over of the innings, and straightaway did the damage with the first four dismissals, to finish with figures of 4-45. However, according to Johnson it was a deliberate plan.

“Obviously using him (Motie), against the right-handers was the plan … the ball was gripping a bit and once we got a wicket he could be a lot more dangerous to the right-handers, and it proved that way,” Johnson stressed.

Apart from Motie, pacers Romario Shepherd and Nial Smith played their part, and were also instrumental in the hosts not being able to accelerate towards the end. The duo didn’t provide any room during their second spells, resulting in Smith finishing with figures of 3-47, and Shepherd claiming 2-50.

However, Motie, who was named man-of-the-match, said he backed his ability and skills, since the condition was a difficult one to bowl on. Johnson also played his part with a brilliant unbeaten 102, his second List A century.

Guyana Jaguars will be in action again today when they play Jamaica Scorpions from 13:30hrs. Definitely their openers Assad Fudadin and Chandrapaul Hemraj will be under some pressure, so too will be wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble.

But it will be interesting to see if Jaguars’ management will revise their batting strategies, since the openers, along with Bramble, just have not performed to their potential.