Deonarine (49), Christian (47*) lead fight

Jan 18, 2009 Sports

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Guyana/CCC locked in ‘tight’ battle for 1st innings points

By Sean Devers in Barbados
In association with Mike’s Pharmacy
& Trophy Stall

Guyana and Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) were locked in a tight battle for first innings points when bad light stopped play at 17:22hrs with 18 overs remaining on the second day of their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional four-day First-Class cricket encounter at the 3Ws Oval here yesterday.
After dismissing CCC for 265, Guyana, hunting their first points in the tournament after their innings and 147-run defeat in their first game, were 237-8, still 29 runs away from first innings points.
Pacers Esuan Crandon (3-47) and Brandon Bess (3-65) along with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-54) were the main wicket-takers for Guyana who have not won a regional first-class title since 2002.
Wicketkeeper Derwin Christian led the Guyana run chase with a well compiled unbeaten 47 from 53 balls, 109 minutes with four fours and a six.  Narsingh Deonarine (49), Leon Johnson (46) and Skipper Travis Dowlin (31) had also contributed earlier in the day as Kevin McLean (3-47) did the most damage with the ball for CCC.
In sunny conditions, CCC resumed on their overnight 262-8 and lost their last two wickets in 10 minutes as Esuan Crandon induced Khismar Catlin sky a catch to mid-off with the day’s first ball before Permaul wrapped up the innings by trapping Jamal Noel (1) leg before.
When Guyana began their reply, Shemroy Barrington, who looked the most solid of the Guyanese batsmen in Grenada, clipped Kevin McLean to the square-leg boundary and then pulled him immaculately for another boundary before he edged the fast bowler to the keeper to leave Guyana on 25-1.

Barrington struck two fours and faced 27 balls in his 37-miniute innings as the Guyanese again failed to build a foundation on a good track with some bounce.  Krishna Arjune (7) again looked short of form and soon edged a catch to slip off McLean as Guyana slipped to 38-2.
The left-handed pair of Johnson and Deonarine; Guyana’s two West Indies players; joined forces in overcast conditions with CCC in the driver’s seat.
A small crowd saw McLean, who bowled with impressive pace, troubled both batsmen although Deonarine smashed a wide short ball for four over cover and Johnson cut him square for four. By lunch the Guyanese were 74-2 with Johnson on 24 and Deonarine on 23.
After lunch both Johnson and Deonarine favored the off-side drives as they grew in confidence as their innings progressed on the lush green outfield at a ground which became the first West Indian venue to stage a regional Day/Night match in the ‘Final Four’ four of the 2007 regional One-Day tournament.
The experienced pair took their team to 110 before another shower at 13:29hrs sent the players scurrying off the field with the Guyanese orchestrating ‘Operation rebuild’ against the students who showed their inexperience with inconsistent cricket as the partnership built.
Johnson seemed a bit unfortunate to be given caught at short- leg when nearing his 4th first-class half-century. The ball appeared to hit his arm as he swept at off-spinner Ryan Austin at 110-3 to end the 72-run third wicket partnership.
His 46 lasted 59 balls, 100 minutes and was decorated with five fours and his demise made way for the arrival of Dowlin.
CCC struck and important blow when Deonarine, for the second consecutive time in the tournament, seemed unfortunate to be leg before as he missed a flick to McLean at 136-4 when one a way from his 22nd first-class fifty. Deonarine’s innings lasted 85 balls, 124 minutes and included six fours.
Dowlin swept Austin disdainfully to the square-leg boundary and elegantly on-drove him for a double next ball as the off-spinner strayed into the pads.
Dowlin, who scored Guyana’s only fifty so far this season with a dogged first innings 50 in Grenada, was joined by Royston Crandon and together they took the score to 146-4 by tea. Dowlin was on 18, Crandon yet to score and Guyana still 119 runs away from first innings points.
After tea, Catlin removed Dowlin (31) and Royston Crandon (7) to catches to the keeper in the space of 11 runs as Guyana slipped to 172-6.  Esuan Crandon (4) then drilled a catch to skipper Simon Jackson at cover and Guyana were in trouble at 181-7.
Derwin Christian and Davendra Bishoo looked to revive the position with a battling partnership as the sun returned in all off its glory.
Christian, averaging below 15 from 18 First-Class matches with a solitary half-century, smashed McLean down the ground for four and followed it up with a pugnacious square cut for four off the next ball as he counter-attacked with positive shots.
Christian lofted Austin for an effortless six but Bishoo, who had played the supporting role in the 36-run eighth wicket partnership, had his off-stump knocked out by Jamal Noel.
Bishoo batted for 50 minutes and 38 balls for his six and his departure again brought CCC back into the fray for first innings points.
Permaul cut Catlin for a boundary just before the close in fading light as the tactics of giving Christian a single to bowl at Permaul proved ineffective before the day’s play ended prematurely.

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