Singh, Bramble, Rutherford put Jaguars in the ascendancy

A seventh First-Class hundred from Vishaul Singh and contrasting fifties from Anthony Bramble and Sherfane Rutherford lifted Guyana Jaguars to a dominant position at stumps on day two of their second round Professional Cricket League Four-day game against Windward Islands Volcanoes on Friday.

Playing at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia, Jaguars, the three-time defending champions, piled up 357 for a first innings lead of 204.

By stumps, Volcanoes reached 48-1, trailing by 156, with dangerman Devon Smith back in the pavillion without scoring, being dismissed by West Indies ‘A’ team fast bowler Keon Joseph.

Earlier, Jaguars, resuming on 134-4, batted their way to a sizeable lead with overnight batsmen Singh and Bramble extending their partnership to 174 for the fifth wicket.

Singh, in his 50^th First-Class match, stroked 119 off 252 balls, an innings that spanned 187 minutes and included 11 fours. Bramble missed out on a ton, falling for 90 (168 balls; 122 minutes; 10x4s).

Rutherford, with career-best 6-32 in the first innings, then blazed to a maiden half-century to ensure Jaguars’ lead went beyond the 200-run mark. The left-hander smashed six fours and four sixes in a rapid 51 off just 59 balls, while Keemo Paul (3), Romario Shepherd (7) and Veerasammy Permaul (3) all fell cheaply. Joseph was not out on zero. 

Bowling for Volcanoes, Obed McCoy had 3-56, while there were two each for Sherman Lewis, Tyrone Theophile and Shane Shillingford.