Imlach’s unbeaten 126 keeps Guyana in the hunt for an outright win

UNLESS rain today spoils the party on the final day of the second-round battle at the Providence Stadium between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), the game is intriguingly poised with hosts holding a slim advantage.

When bad light stopped play yesterday with 17 overs to be bowled CCC in their second innings, with a first innings lead of 32, were 32-3 enjoying an overall lead of 64.
Damel Evelyn, on 13 and Andre Bailey on one, are the hot batters going into day four today.

Veerasammy Permaul and Shamar Joseph have picked up a wicket each for Guyana who reached 343 replying to CCC’s first innings total of 375.
Skipper Tevin Imlach led from the front with an unbeaten 126 from 239 balls with 12 fours; his fourth first Class ton.

The 28-year-old Imlach shared in a 120-run partnership for the eighth wicket with the 26-year-old Renaldo Ali Mohamed whose maiden First-Class fifty (77) was decorated with four fours and seven sixes.

Fast bowlers Akeem Jordon (4-68) and Ojay Shields (4-86) were CCC’s best bowlers.

After rain delayed the start of play by two hours, Guyana resumed overnight on 166-6 and lost Richie Looknauth who edged Shields to the Keeper after adding just four to four to his overnight 21 as home slipped to 174-7.

Imlach, overnight on 58 and Ali-Mohammed saw Guyana 190 before another shower halted play 25 minutes before the rescheduled Lunch break which was set for 12:30 hours.
Imlach, Guyana’s latest Test player, was unbeaten on 72, Ali-Mohammed on seven, and their team was still 35 runs away from avoiding the follow-on.

After the interval, Ali-Mohammed employed calculated aggression, and in overcast conditions and was not afraid to pounce on the bad balls.
A disdainful six over mid-wicket and a glorious cover-driven boundary off successive balls of Shields brought up the 200.

Imlach was content to play second fiddle and showed that once you play at the highest level you could dominate at this level, as batters played brilliantly; demonstrating wonderful temperament.

Ali-Mohammed soon passed his highest First-Class score of 41 and reached his fifty with a humongous six off Mahabirsingh to reach his fifty from 48 balls three fours and five sixes.
Imlach became the third batter returning from Pakistan to reach three figures when he executed a deft lap sweep of leggie Mansingh for four. His fourth century came from 185 balls with 11 fours.

When well set for a hundred Ali-Mohammed attempted to cut at a ball that was too close for that shot and was caught behind at 294-8.

Permaul, whose highest score at this level is 90 not out last year played an irresponsible shot and was caught at mid-off off Jordon at 327-9.

Joseph threw his bat and connected twice for boundaries before Joseph was bowled by Jordon for 13 as Imlach ran out of partners.

The final day today is scheduled to commence at 09:30 hours.