WICB Four-Day Franchise Cricket ...Hurricane blown away for 139 as Jaguars in charge on rain hit day

WICB Four-Day Franchise Cricket …Hurricane blown away for 139 as Jaguars in charge on rain hit day

Feb 14, 2015 Sports

By Sean Devers in Antigua
In Association with Western Union,
John Fernandes Ltd & Meet Your Match
Dating Service

On an Island still mourning the loss of Grathel Richards, the mother of National Hero Sir Vivian Richards, who died last week Thursday at age 91, Leeward Islands Hurricanes and leaders Guyana Jaguars locked horns at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium yesterday in the sixth round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Four-Day First-Class cricket Franchise.
The people of the Leeward Islands have been morning the terminal decline of the Leewards team, who are in cellar position with just five points and by the end of the opening day of this contest, it was a different day, but same script, as the game was contested in front of virtually empty stands and the Jaguars dominated the truncated day from start to finish on 14-0 when bad light stopped play, replying to the paltry 139 made by the hosts.
Quinton Boatswain (12) and Jeremiah Louis (27*) put together 37 for the last wicket, the best partnership of the innings, while Akeem Saunders (21) and Austin Richards (20) wasted starts for the Leewards.
Needing to bat 10 overs in the day, Rajendra Chandrika (4) and Vishaul Singh (9) survived a testing period from Gavin Tonge to leave the Jaguars 125 runs away from first innings points.
Interest in the Leewards team is almost non-existent here and after day one of a game which was poorly promoted after the last minute switch from St Kitts, Ronsford Beaton (4-40), Chris Barnwell (2-17) and Veerasammy Permaul, who took his wicket tally to 42 with 2-32, had all bowled impressively for the Jaguars.
Guyana left out 18-year-old West Indies under-19 left-hander Shemron Hetymer and pacer Keon Joseph and Richards began with boundaries in the first two overs as the Hurricane’s began in positive fashion.
The 24-year-old Sherwin Peters from St Maarten, playing in only his second match, played the supporting role and got going with a boundary to the left of gully off Raymond Reifer, who opened the bowling with Beaton. The skies became increasingly overcast and Richards reached the boundary for the third time with a neat glide between third slip and gully when the left-handed Reifer give him room outside off-stump.
Beaton struck in the next over when Peters (5) hung his bat at one that left and offered a catch to gully at 19-1 to bring Montcin Hodge to the wicket as Barnwell was introduced and soon removed Hodge (3) at 27-2.
Thomas got going with a boundary off Barnwell, who got the last laugh when Thomas (10) edged a beauty which left him off the seam and was taken by Wicketkeeper Bramble as the home team slipped to 41-4.
Jahmar Hamilton, who made 73 against Guyana in the first round at Providence, cut Permaul elegantly past point for four but, like is now almost expected by young West Indian batsmen, he aided in his own demise when he was caught behind off Permaul for 10 as the Berbician continued to torment the batsmen throughout this tournament to capture his 40th wicket and leave the score on 62-5.
Beaton was brought back just before Lunch and did the job for his Skipper Leon Johnson when he induced the burly Rakeem Cornwall (5) to edge a catch to Barnwell at 67-6 as the Hurricanes were being blown away in quick time.
By Lunch the Leewards had dug themselves into the deep and were 71-6 with Saunders on 11 and Haden Walsh yet to score, hanging on for dear life.
When play began in hazy sunshine after the entire post Lunch session was lost due to rain, Saunders swiveled and pulled Permaul for four, but Walsh (3) was soon taken at silly mid-off as he pushed forward to Permaul as the Leewards catapulted to 80-7.
Saunders (21) edged Beaton to Johnson at second slip after batting for 64 minutes, 50 balls and hitting four boundaries and his demise left the Islanders on 84-8 before Tonge threw his bat around and lashed Beaton for consecutive fours before the Montserrat born Essequibo pacer scattered his stumps at 102-9 after he had made 15.
Boatswain, who was also born on the Volcano ravaged Island of Montserrat, offered excellent support to the 18-year-old Jeremiah Louis and together they frustrated the Jaguars with the highest partnership of the innings, bring back memories of the Jamaican record last wicket stand of 84 between Mindley and Dawes in their last match.
While Louis looked accomplished, Boatswain looked ungainly at times but was more aggressive and clipped Permaul for consecutive boundaries when he strayed on the pads as the last wicket stand prospered as the sun retuned. Boatswain (12) was brilliantly caught at slip by Barnwell off Reifer leaving Louis unbeaten on 27 from 77 balls, 89 minutes with two fours.
Today is the second day and play is scheduled to commence at 09:30am.