Day-two Practice match Hemraj & Johnson score tons on final day

Jan 04, 2020 Sports

By Sean Devers

Centuries from 26-year-old Chanderpaul Hemraj and his 32-year-old Skipper Leon Johnson spearheaded Johnson’s X1 to a first innings lead over Anthony Adams’ X1 who made 244 in their first innings when final two-day practice match ended yesterday at Providence.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 51 yesterday.

Skipper Leon Johnson scored a responsible hundred yesterday at Providence.

Chanderpaul Hemraj stroked a magnificent 104 at Providence yesterday.

Hemraj faced 149 balls, batted for 199 minutes and hit nine boundaries which included a six in 104 and added 167 with Johnson who was at the crease for 308 minutes, faced 159 balls and hit five fours in his 104 before he retired to allow others to get a ‘knock’ in a game used as preparation for upcoming Regional First-Class season.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul who did not arrive home in time for the first practice game, batted at number four yesterday and made 51 (retired out).
Chanderpaul and Chris Barnwell (27) put together a half-century, while Raymon Reifer made an unbeaten on 27 and Anthony Bramble fell for 24 as Johnson’s X1 reached 388-5. Ali-Mohamed took two of the five wickets.
Resuming on their overnight score of 85-1 after Tevin Imlach (1) was LBW to Ali-Mohamed on Thursday afternoon at 6-1, the left-handed pair of Hemraj and his skipper added 167 runs for the second wicket.
In glorious sunshine on track which got better for batting and outfield which got faster as the match progressed, Hemraj dominated the partnership as he favoured the off-side drives.
Hemraj, who has played 25 First-Class matches since making his debut against Trinidad and Tobago in 2012 in Port-of-Spain and has a century and seven fifties at this level, edged Ali-Mohamed to the Keeper just before Lunch.
This was to be only success for the bowlers in the opening session by Lunch the total was 184-2 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who batted at number four.
After the interval, Chanderpaul and Johnson continued to bat responsible with wonderful shot selection before Johnson deposited Ricardo Adams for six to bring up his century.
But with the partnership worth 89 Johnson retired out to bring Barnwell to the crease and by Tea the Total was 219-3.
After the break, Barnwell, Chanderpaul, Reifer and Bramble all got starts in the last session.
Meanwhile, the National Selectors have named the Guyana squad to oppose the Leewards at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound in Antigua from January 9 in their opening game.
The 13-man squad: Chanderpaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh, Chris Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Raymond Reifer, Veerasammy Permaul, Davendra Bishoo, Nail Smith, Keon Joseph, Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair. Esuan Crandon (Head Coach), Shiv Chanderpaul (Manager/Ass Coach), Neil Barry (Physio)
According to the CGI Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd are unavailable due to West Indies duty.
However, Shepherd, once available will join the team for their second round match in Barbados.