President’s Cup (2nd round, 1st day)

Oct 22, 2008 Sports

Johnson (47*) gives ‘Super Cats’ upper handBy Sean Devers
In sultry conditions on a placid track and fast GCC Bourda outfield, West Indies left-hander Leon Johnson continued his recent good form with an unbeaten 47 yesterday to take Clive Lloyd’s Super Cats within 15 runs of first innings points against Lance Gibbs’ Tigers on the opening day of the second round President’s Cup three-day national cricket competition.

Johnson, who played three ODI’s in Canada two months ago, stroked eight fluent boundaries in his innings to date as his team reached 168-4 replying to the 182 all out made by the Sewnarine Chattergoon led ‘Tigers’.

Ryan Ramdass, who played his solitary Test in 2005 in Sri Lanka, made 30 at the top of the order while West Indies under-19 Vice Captain Steven Jacobs, followed up his two half-centuries in the first round with six fours in 31.

The experienced Hoomchand Pooran, who made a century in the first match, is already looking ominous in his undefeated 29 with four fours.

First-class pacer Brandon Bess removed former West Indies opener Richard Ramdeen (5) at 31-1 before former Guyana under-19 medium pacer Ryan Hercules (who so far has 2-40) removed Ramdass and Jacobs while national 20/20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell sent back first match centurion Vishal Singh (3) to a catch by the keeper.

Earlier, the ‘Tigers’ paid for poor shot selection as Barnwell who hit a run-ball 44 with eight fours, West Indies youth player Rajendra Chandrika (34), National Keeper Derwin Christian (28), first-class leg spinner Davendra Bishoo (23) and Shemroy Barrington (22) all failed to build on starts after Chattergoon (7) was run out at 43-1 in the day’s seventh over.

National under-19 pacer Keon Joseph had Chandrika caught behind at 43-2 while Esuan Crandon removed former West Indies under-19 left-hander Assad Fudadin (9) as the ‘Tigers’ limped to 54-3.

Christian and his DCC club-mate Barnwell steadied the ship with a 67-run sixth wicket stand but once they were separated West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (3-28) ran through the lower order after former national under-19 pacer Jeremiah had picked up 3-59.

Play on the second day; today, is expected to commence at 09:30hrs and these matches are being used to select the Guyana team for the 2008/09 Carib Beer regional first-class season which is scheduled to bowl off in December.