Raymon Reifer was the main architect of defending champions Guyana Jaguars escaping with a draw against Barbados Pride in the Regional 4-Day Tournament on Monday.
Reifer, the Barbados-born, left-handed all-rounder, led tail-end resistance with an unbeaten 35 following Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s second half-century of the match, as the Jaguars, were bowled out for 322 in their second innings just over an hour after tea on the final day of the eighth round match at Kensington Oval.
He then returned to grab 4-49 from six overs to leave the Pride’s victory chase in shambles, as the home team stumbled to 75 for five, leaving them 18 short of the target. The result meant that the Pride earned 11.8 points, moving to 99.2 for the season, but remain 7.6 behind the Jaguars, whose tally for the match was a meagre 3.6.
Chanderpaul and fellow left-hander Vishaul Singh fell before lunch for the Jaguars, following-on with a first innings deficit of 230 and resuming on 119 for three following the rest day to allow the first Twenty20 International between West Indies and Pakistan at the same venue.
The pair defied the rest day to add 91 for the fourth wicket to add some resistance for the Guyanese before Chanderpaul was caught at extra cover off Roston Chase’s off-spin for 63 which followed up his obdurate, even 50 in the first innings, and Singh was caught at short mid-wicket off Jomel Warrican, as the Jaguars reached 186 for five at lunch.
After the interval, Anthony Bramble joined Reifer and they put on 51 for the sixth wicket to further frustrate the Pride before three wickets – all to West Indies fast bowler Miguel Cummins – fell in the space of 29 balls and left the Jaguars 235 for eight at tea – and just five runs in the black.
Anthony Bramble was bowled off the inside edge for 30 before Romario Shepherd and Devendra Bishoo were both caught behind for one and two respectively, flirting with short, rising deliveries from Cummins. Tail-end defiance from Reifer, Clinton Pestano with 38 and Gudakesh Motie with 29 however, extended the Jaguars’ innings into the final hour.
The Pride, having 12 overs to complete the job, started briskly before Reifer started the procession to and from the pavilion, when he had left-handed opener Anthony Alleyne caught at long-on for 12.
He added the cheap scalps of Kevin Stoute and Ashley Nurse, as well as Shai Hope for the top score of 35, and Shepherd removed Shane Dowrich for one, as the Pride’s threat fizzled out.
The Pride host Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the following round, starting on April 7, but the Jaguars will be sidelined for that weekend, due to three One-day Internationals between West Indies and Pakistan being played at the Guyana National Stadium, pushing back their scheduled ninth round match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes until April 21 at the same venue.
The Jaguars face Windward Islands Volcanoes next time they take the field on April 14 on home soil for what was originally scheduled to be the final round. (windiescricket)
