… Johnson, Barnwell centuries helped set tone for rest of batsmen

By Clifton Ross

LEON Johnson and Christopher Barnwell have laid the foundation for Guyana Jaguars’ other batsmen to now build on and keep the runs flowing as they continue their 50-Over title quest.
The captain Johnson was the first to rack up three figures which blew the wind out of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes. The former West Indies Test batsman played his usual classy game and, as a result, registered what would be his 2nd List A ton, but more importantly a huge momentum booster for himself and the team with a tight season ahead.

His energy seemed to rub off almost immediately after, when the all-rounder Barnwell, one of last season’s top batsmen; seemingly picked up from where he left off, but this time breaking the shackles and reaching his maiden 50-Overs hundred.
One huge difference from last season is that the approach seems to be a bit more aggressive yet responsible at the same time. A long break from COVID-19 also played a part as both centurions scored their runs at an extremely efficient pace.
Johnson’s 102 required just 133 balls and featured 12 fours and a 6, typical stroke-play from the left-hander. Barnwell, on the other hand, was more belligerent, not being paid by the minute as his 107 came from just 90 balls.

The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) veteran finished with a strike-rate of 118.8, endorsed mainly by his 4 fours and six maximums. Another veteran in Anthony Bramble added the finishing touches with a 49-ball 69, adding 4 fours and as many sixes to the lot.
These individual contributions early in the tournament, especially from two of the franchise’s original big stars who have been around since the Professional Cricket League (PCL) took effect, are a great plus for the Jaguars who have additional international young stars like Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd and others.
This batting surge in the recent matches has also paved a way for the bowlers to feast on under-pressure opposition batsmen. Spinners Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie have been filling the big shoes of Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo thus far with additional support from all-rounder Ramaal Lewis.

With Nial Smith and Shepherd running the offence in the fast-bowling department, especially with Jaguars looking to get more from their spinners; the team is on its path to becoming arguably one of the most well-oiled units in the competition, alongside the formidable Trinidad Red Force and Barbados Tridents.
Guyana will definitely want more from their internationally accredited top-order in Assad Fudadin and Chandrapaul Hemraj, the latter warming up well with a hundred in the Jaguars’ practice games, prior to the tournament.

Both left-handers looked good in the first game with scores of 22 for Fudadin and 24 for Hemraj. Hemraj had 3 fours and a 6 while Fudadin, who made his return to Guyana colours after a few seasons with the Jamaica Scorpions, had 2 fours.
Both batsmen failed in the second game with the former scoring just 8 and the latter, 10. Should those two find their groove and give the Jaguars a few 50- or 100-plus opening partnership stands, Johnson and the in-form middle could easily go to work on the competition with far less pressure than they absorbed in the first two encounters.
The Jags, with 12 points and leading the table to date, have a tough next assignment on the 20th against arch rivals and current 2nd-placed Red Force (8 points) – a match which will do much for the form of both franchises.
With a few days to recover, regroup and maintain their training in-between, match 3 will certainly reveal where the Jaguars are as a team and which areas they will need to improve, going forward.