Guyana in charge in their own backyard

Feb 27, 2011 Sports

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Bajans 88-5 replying to homesters 330

By Sean Devers at Providence

Back in familiar home conditions of the Providence Stadium, Guyana produced their best batting performance this season as Vishaul Singh scored a maiden First-Class fifty and Derwin Christian (27) and Chris Barnwell (24) chipped in to help the hosts to 330 against a Barbados attack which again lacked ‘bite’.
On a track already showing signs of keeping low, the Bajans, led by 18-year-old Kraigg Braithwaite’s composed unbeaten 31 struggled to 88-5 by the close of the second day of their fourth round Regional Four-Day match yesterday.
Barbados, without a First-Class defeat in Guyana in 27 years, are still 243 away from first innings points while they need another 92 to avoid being asked to follow-on.
Braithwaite has so far faced 93 balls, hit four fours and batted for just less than two hours as the Albion spin pair of Devendra Bishoo (3-15) and Veerasammy Permaul (2-24) exploited the Bajan’s weakness to spin bowling.
After Skipper Assad Fudadin (77 overnight) again failed to convert a fifty into his first three-figure score when he fell for 84, the left-handed Singh batted with great responsibility and level-headedness before he was removed on the stroke of tea for 66 from 164 balls, 210 minutes with five fours.
The 22-year-old Singh, in only his sixth game at this level had added 81 for the seventh wicket with Derwin Christian after they joined forces when Barnwell was removed by left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds just after Lunch at 247-6.
But once Christian, who hit three boundaries in his 67-ball innings was caught at slip off Hinds in the penultimate over before Tea, the last four Guyana wickets tumbled for just two runs as the home team were dismissed 17 minutes into the final session.
Left-arm Test pacer Pedro Collins fell a wicket short of his 14th five wicket haul when he bowled Davendra Bishoo for a duck to end the innings and finish with 4-76 while Hinds (2-40) and Fidel Edwards (2-57) supported for the Bajans on the slow track.   Barbados began their reply steadily before Dale Richards (24) was leg before to left-arm spinner Permaul at 50-1, while Kyle Hope (20) and Jason Holder both fell with the score on 75 as Guyana took control.
Hope was well taken by Crandon who had to run in from long-off as the burly Gajanand Singh, who was closer to the ball, made no attempt to go for the catch. Holder pushed forward and was snapped up at silly mid-off.
Barbados found themselves in more problems when Hinds (4) was bowled by Bishoo, who soon had Stoute well caught at slip by Leon Johnson for a duck as Barbados sunk to 84-5 in fading light.
Braithwaite, who made his debut at this level two seasons ago, has already scored two centuries and three fifties in his 12-match career and yesterday he again displayed the type of temperament sadly lacking among most regional batsmen.
The right-hander played each ball on its merit and did not give his wicket away even as wickets tumbled around him. A lot will rest on his slim shoulders today if Barbados are to stage a fight back.
Earlier, Guyana resumed on 176-3 with Fudadin on 77 and Royston Crandon yet to score and the pair took the score to 194 before Crandon (5) edged 34-year-old Collins to the Keeper.
The left-handed Fudadin who made his debut at this level in 2004, has now batted 61 times in First-Class cricket without getting a three-figure score although he has passed 50 eight times.  Yesterday the Berbician made a consorted effort to be watchful and batted for just over an hour; rarely playing an attacking shot against a steady attack.
With less than 50 spectators watching the action in brilliant sunshine Fudadin added seven to his overnight score before he was taken at third slip as Kevin Stoute struck an important blow for the visitors with Fudadin nine short of his best effort of 93 at this level. His 84 lasted 229 balls, 317 minutes and included five fours and two sixes.
Chris Barnwell, selected ahead of Steven Jacobs in the final X1, joined the pint-size Vishaul Singh and cut Stoute behind point for a rare boundary and then stroked Collins for another boundary two overs later.
Singh played the supporting role and Barnwell, who has two fifties at this level, spanked Edwards for a four in the penultimate over before Lunch as the pair took the South Americans to 241-5 by the interval.
Singh was unbeaten on 17 while the 24-year-old Barnwell, in his 12th First-Class game, was on 23 not out.
Barnwell edged left-arm spinner Hinds to slip just after Lunch after hitting three fours in his 68-minute 24 to leave the score on 247-6 and end a promising 51-run partnership.
Singh was his usual dogged self, pushing the balls into the gaps and defending the on-target deliveries and along with Christian, whose only ton was on this ground against Jamaica two seasons ago, batted intelligently.
Singh passed his previous highest score of 34 made on this ground against Barbados on his debut in 2009 with a single off Stoute while Christian was dropped by Hinds at slip on eight in the same over with Guyana on 274-6.
Singh edged Collins for his second four to take his score to 48 and then clipped the next ball for a couple behind square to reach his 50 from 144 balls and three hours of batting.
The 300 was posted just before Tea and Singh celebrated with two fours off Collins before disdainfully whipping Hinds through wide mid-wicket for another boundary.
However Barbados struck twice in the last two overs before Tea with the score on 328 when Christian was caught at slip off Hinds and the resolute Singh was leg before to Collins on the stroke of Tea with the score on 328-8.
In the second over after Tea Permaul was trapped Leg before to Edwards for a duck without addition to the score as three wickets tumbled at 328 after Guyana had looked well set to post a 400 total with Singh and Christian well set. Collins then bowled Bishoo two runs later to end the innings before the Bajan batsmen collapsed in the final session.
Today is the third day and play is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs.
Meanwhile, in scores from the other matches:
Combined Campuses vs England – Combined Campuses 176/5 (stumps) replying to England Lions 373. Bonner 13* and R. Reifer 46* are the not out batsmen, while Currency 9, Phillips 36, Ottley 15, Corbin 57 are back in the pavilion. Briggs 2, Rashid 1, Thomas 1 are the wicket takers.
Lions Innings: Adams made 115, Bairslow 85, Kieswetter 45; Austin took 7/134 and Kantasingh 3/92.
Windwards vs T&T – Windwards 149/2 (stumps) replying to T&T 220.
Lespores 29* and Fletcher 47* are at the wicket.
Batsmen Out: J. Charles 17, Theophile 46.  For T&T: Simmons 11, Guillen 9, Morton 11, D. Ganga 2
S. Ganga 84, Ramdin 53, Khan 21; Johnson 4/34
Leewards vs Jamaica – Leewards 169/3 (stumps) replying to Jamaica 504/5decl.
Jeffers 80* and S Liburd 14* are at the wicket. Williams 40, Tuitt 4, Burton 17 are the batsmen out. Wkts: Dawes 1
Jamaica Innings: Samuels 167, Nash 67, Jackson 61, Hinds 51; Tonge 2/84.

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