Left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer bagged his second five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket to put the Guyana Jaguars in a great position to beat points leaders Jamaica Scorpions in the sixth round game of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day competition.
At stumps on day three on Sunday, Jaguars, chasing 182 for an outright win, closed on 79-2, still 103 runs away from victory with eight wickets in hand. Scores in the match so far: Jamaica 255 and 188; Guyana Jaguars 262 and 79-2.
Scorpions, starting the day on 61-1 after conceding a slim first innings lead of seven runs, lost wickets at regular intervals as Reifer tore through the middle and lower order. The Barbadian all-rounder ended with 5-60 off 16.2 overs and received solid support from left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who claimed 3-40 off 21 overs.
Fast bowlers Romario Shepherd and Keon Joseph shared the other two wickets. Jermaine Blackwood top scored with 37, while Devon Thomas made 32.
In their second innings, Jaguars have so far lost opener Shimron Hetmyer for 42 and skipper Leon Johnson for 10. Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was forced to retire hurt without getting off the mark, while the not out batsmen are Vishaul Singh (13*) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (0*).
Tagenarine was struck on the finger by a Jerome Taylor delivery, a blow that required x-ray. The technical staff will monitor the left-hander overnight to determine whether he will be able to bat, should he be required to do so.
The Jaguars will start Monday fully aware that an outright win will take them to the top of the points table.
