PCL 4-DAY: Joseph’s 7-53 puts Jaguars in control

By Avenash Ramzan

On the day he was selected to the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise for the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League, fast bowler Keon Joseph produced career-best figures to put Guyana Jaguars in control on day one of the sixth round Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day game against hosts and points leader, Jamaica Scorpions. 

In a top-of-the-table clash, Scorpions made 255 batting first; Jaguars closed on 69 without loss, with former West Indies Under-19 skipper Shimron Hetmyer unbeaten on a half-century. 

The day belonged to Joseph, who ripped the heart out of the Scorpions’ batting, claiming 7-53, his maiden five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket. Joseph was destructive in his 15.3 overs, as he troubled all the batsmen. Debutant Romario Shepherd was also impressive, claiming 2-59 off 16 overs. 

Chadwick Walton, who will be Joseph’s Guyana Amazon Warriors teammate at the Hero CPL 2017, resisted with 101 off 173 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes. No other batsman got past Brandon King’s 30. 

In their turn at the crease, Jaguars coasted to 69-0 off 17 overs with Hetmyer unbeaten on 51 off 54 balls (7x4s, 1×6) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, playing his first First-Class game since March 2016, not out on 14. 

Meanwhile, in the other sixth round game: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 250-7 (Yannick Cariah 92 ret. hurt, Steven Katwaroo 59, Khary Pierre 39, Isaiah Rajah 29; Kyle Mayers 3-23, Sherman Lewis 2-48) vs Windward Islands Volcanoes.