Regional Four-Day cricket…Thomas (176), Walton (107) lift CCC to 377-9 declared, but Guyana mount fight-back

Mar 24, 2014 Sports

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By Sean Devers in Barbados
In association with Star Party Rentals &

Payless Varity Store

Brilliant centuries from Shacaya Thomas and fellow Jamaican Chadwick Walton took CCC to an imposing 377-9 declared on the penultimate day of their fourth round Day/Night Regional Four-Day cricket contest against Guyana yesterday at the 3Ws Oval, leaving the Guyanese to make 128 to avoid an innings defeat.
Guyana, who made 263 in their first innings were 82-1 at the close, still 46 runs of making the Students bat again. Skipper Leon Johnson again looked the most positive batsman and was not out on 35.  Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who was peppered with short balls in lights that were too low for this level that made sighting the ball a difficult experience, was unbeaten on 32.
Thomas took his overnight 160 to 176 from 331 minutes, 274 balls with14 fours and four sixes, while Walton hit eight fours and two sixes in his 269-minute and 193-ball 107 as CCC declared 45 minutes before Tea.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul captured 3-88 to move to 25 wickets while leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has 3-95 for Guyana, who are hoping to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat at this venue.
CCC resumed in bright sunshine on 246-2 and quickly knocked off the 17 runs they required to overhaul Guyana’s first innings effort on a good track with some bounce and a fairly fast outfield.   Thomas was trapped LBW to Permaul, 35 minutes into the day’s play at 278-4 to end the 82-run partnership between Walton and Thomas.
The 28-year-old Walton reached his 13th fifty at this level from 132 minutes, 105 balls with four fours and a six before Jacobs hammed Permaul for four to long-on to get off the mark in fine style.
However, the left-arm spinner got the last laugh next ball when he had the CCC Captain caught at mid-on to leave the students on 288-5 much to the delight of his countrymen in the middle.
A small gathering watched as Kavem Hodge joined Walton and the pair brought up the 300 in 101.5 overs after the 250 was posted from 82 overs.
Hodge (9) did not last long and was soon trapped in front to Bishoo at 301-6 as the visitors fought back in the first session yesterday.
Kevin McClean swept Bishoo for four behind square as he played the supporting role to Walton too see the hosts to 330-7 from 113 overs by Lunch enjoying a lead of 66 with Walton on 66 and Mc Clean on 13.
At the break Guyana collected two bowling points while CCC got three batting points. Bonus points could only be earned in the first 110 overs of the first innings.
After Lunch Walton danced into Permaul and stroked him delightfully wide of mid-on for four to increase the partnership to 50 from 122 overs and 59 minutes, while McClean swept Bishoo disdainfully for four to take the lead into triple figures.
A Walton boundary took him into the nineties and along with McClean added 67 for the eighth wicket before Bishoo induced McClean (33) to edge to a catch to the Keeper to break the partnership and leave CCC on 377-8.
Walton brought up his third First-Class ton with his second six, a savage pull off Bishoo and his 100 took 264 minutes, 188 balls and was decorated with eight fours and two sixes. However, Walton was the caught at gully, low down by Assad Fudadin to give Johnson his only wicket of the innings, setting Guyana 128 to avoid an innings defeat.
Guyana began their second innings just before Tea under lights and quickly lost Fudadin (8) at 16-1 when the left-hander was LBW to McClean. At Tea the score was 26-1 with Johnson (3) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (14) at the crease.
Johnson, who has played three ODIs, was dropped off a mistimed a pull at square-leg by Akeem Dewar off McClean on five with the score on 30 but he continued to mix caution with aggression.
The teenaged Chanderpaul, who cut pacer Raymon Reifer gloriously for four, played with a lot more freedom than at any time in the competition and the pair of left-handers took their team to 50 in 85 minutes off 18.4 overs.
Johnson survived a confident appeal for caught at bat/pad off Jacobs and responded with a stunning back cut for a boundary next ball before surviving another confident LBW shout from an animated Jacobs off the next ball.
Johnson and young Chanderpaul, who chipped into Ryan Austin and stroked him down the ground for a majestic boundary, added  56 runs by the close of play with intelligent batting as the South Americans did not lose a wicket in the entire final session.
Play on the final day today is scheduled to commence at 15:00hrs.

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