WICB Regional First-Class Franchise cricket Deonarine hits unbeaten 110 as ‘Jaguars’ tighten grip on Leewards

Nov 16, 2014 Sports

---

By Sean Devers
Watched by Chairman of the West Indies selectors Clive Lloyd and fellow selector Courtney Browne, 31-year-old left-hander Narsingh Deonarine moved a step closer to a West Indies recall with a magnificent unbeaten 110 on a slow, two-paced Providence track to help Guyana Jaguars to 343 against the Leewards on day two of the opening round of the WICB four-day Franchise First-Class yesterday.
A fiery opening spell by West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Ronsford Beaton in which he removed the first three batsmen before Tea and excellent support from West Indies spin twins Davendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, bowled out the Leewards for a paltry 98 before enforcing the follow-on in fading light.
Needing 249 to avoid an innings defeat the Islanders were four without loss from one over in their second innings to leave the Jaguars in a virtually impregnable position going into today’s penultimate day.
Deonarine who has played 18 Tests, batted for 404 minutes, faced 279 balls and shared in half century partnerships yesterday with Chris Barnwell and Anthony Bramble to rally the Jaguars to a 300 plus total.
Deonarine, one of 17 Berbicians to play Test cricket and one of 48 from Guyana, fashioned a classy innings to bat himself back into form after a horrendous season with the bat earlier this year.
The Albion stroke player scored two tons, including his highest First-Class score of 198 in 2008 when he became the first player to make 1,000 runs in a single Regional First-Class season and with 10 matches to play in this season, his 10th hundred at this level has provided him with a wonderful opportunity to repeat the feat of 1,000 runs again.
Yesterday the elegant Deonarine mixed caution with aggression and put away the bad balls to reach his ton from 364 minutes, 258 balls with nine fours before he ran out of partners.
Beginning the day on 230-5 with Deonarine on 73 and Barnwell on 24 and the pair extended their stand to 50 before Barnwell (33) was LBW to leg-spinner Anthony Martin at 248-6, while Bramble, whose shot filled 46 came from 63 balls and was decorated with five fours and a six, was removed by off-spinner Jacques Taylor on the stroke of Lunch.
After the interval, Gavin Tonge who operated with immaculate control and produced plenty of lateral movement in sweltering heat cleaned up the tail by trapping Bishoo (14) and Beaton (0) LBW after Yannick Leonard had sent Permaul (4) packing at 320-8.
Tonge, the only player with Test experience in the young Leewards side, took 4-60 from 23 overs and got support from Taylor (2-70) for the visitors who reached 44-3 by Tea.
Beaton, working up good pace, trapped Austin Richards LBW for a duck (1-1), bowled Akeem Saunders with a perfect yorker for a duck (5-2) before Permaul at point held a stupendous catch to get rid of Lyndell Richardson for 14 at 24-3.
After Tea, Bishoo and Permaul operated in tandem to befuddle the inexperienced Leewards batsman with mesmerizing spin bowling as only Orlando Peters (18) and Skipper Devon Thomas (13) of the top order batsmen showed any fight to the Albion spin pair before Bishoo removed them both as the Leewards, who hold the unwanted record of the lowest ever total in Regional First-Class cricket (39 vs CCC in 2012) slumped to 45-6.
Permaul then dismissed Tonge (7) eleven runs later while Bishoo, who took a Guyana record 15-149 against T&T in his last match at Providence earlier this year, had Taylor (4) caught and bowled without addition to the score.
Leonard (13*) and the Martin (25) put together 37 runs in a frustrating ninth wicket partnership. Beaton was brought back for a second spell but the Essequibian lacked the pace he produced in his first spell with the new ball and failed to make an impression.
A small gathering of fans in the Red Stand watched as Permaul finally broke the stand by having Martin caught behind at 93-9. Kelbert Walters (0) was run out one run later.
Beaton (3-26), Permaul (3-18) and Bishoo (3-31) conspired to destroy the Leewards, who last lost to Guyana two years ago when they lost by 234 runs after the Islanders had beaten the Guyanese in their last match earlier this year in Antigua despite Leon Johnson’s ton.
Today is the third day and it is very likely that the Jaguars will register their 10th win in 35 matches since they first opposed the Leewards in 1983.
In the other matches: CLOSE OF PLAY! Alston Bobb has been the star for Windwards taking 5-46. JAM close on 148-9 an overall lead of 246.
SUMMARY: JAM 208 and 148-9 (39.1) Windwards 110. JAM lead by 246.
And STUMPS, DAY 2! #TT v BAR T&T Red Force still trail by 271 runs. They need to get to 210 runs for the follow-on. Barbados 350; TT 89-7.

---

---