PCL: Bramble (196*), Permaul (6-21) decimate Hurricanes
SUMMARY: Jaguars (417) vs Hurricanes (114-9) in Providence, Guyana
A destructive spell from Veerasammy Permaul followed up more epic batting from Anthony Bramble to tighten the Guyana Jaguars’ grip on their match against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the Digicel 4-Day Championship on Friday.
The pint-sized Permaul – the most successful bowler this season – grabbed 6-21 from 12 miserly overs to wreck the Hurricanes batting.
Only two batsmen reached 20 – Shane Burton and Devon Thomas – but it was token resistance only, as the Jaguars fortified their bid take the long break for the holidays after the match with a virtually unassailable lead.
Earlier, Bramble came close to turning his maiden hundred into a double-hundred, but he ran out of partners down the stretch. Bramble finished undefeated on 196 that included 23 fours and five sixes from 292 balls in a near 7 ½ hours stay at the crease.
After he and Permaul (11 off 53) carried the Jaguars past 300 with a ninth-wicket stand of 44, Bramble got together with Gudakesh Motie (47 off 91) and further frustrated the Hurricanes with a record 110-run, last-wicket stand that carried the home team’s innings past the lunch interval.
Hurricanes’ captain Rahkeem Cornwall ended with 3-117 from 30 overs with his off-spin and fast-medium bowler Mervin Matthews finished with 2-31 from 22 overs.
SUMMARY: Volcanoes (226-9 dec) & 142-3 vs Scorpions (112-9 dec) in Gros-Islet, St. Lucia
Devon Smith was eyeing another Windies first-class batting record after fast-medium bowlers Shermon Lewis and Kyle Mayers bowled Windward Islands Volcanoes into a superior position against Jamaica Scorpions on the second day of seventh round matches at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Smith was unbeaten on 75 – eyeing his second hundred of the match, following his undefeated 107 in the first innings. If he completes the feat, he will become the first batsman to achieve the milestone twice in the modern era (1966 onwards) of the Windies first-class championship.
Again, Smith remained unflappable throughout his 137-ball innings which included six fours, as the rest of the top-order batting once failed to give stable support.
Earlier, Mayers ended with 4-32 from 12 overs and Lewis finished with 4-36 from 12.3 overs, as Scorpions, resuming from 33 without loss, lost wickets steadily throughout the first session of the day.
Only two players made more than 20 for the Scorpions – left-handed opener John Campbell and fast bowler Derval Green – before the visitors made a tactical declaration, like their opponents the previous day, to take advantage of the discomfort batsmen typically encounter facing up to a new pink ball under the lights which failed to materialise.
SUMMARY: Pride (316) vs Red Force 145-8 in Tarouba, Trinidad
And, a brilliant spell of left-arm spin bowling from Jomel Warrican topped a defiant half-century from Denesh Ramdin to give Barbados Pride the upper hand over Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground.
Warrican grabbed 6-52 from 30 overs, but Ramdin, the Red Force batting, was carrying the fight for his side to remain competitive in the match with an unbeaten 74.
Left-hander opener Jeremy Solozano made 41, sharing 56 for the fourth wicket with Ramdin, and was the only other Red Force batsman to pass 20, after the hosts wrapped up the Pride’s first innings about 40 minutes before lunch.
Solozano and fellow left-handed opener Amir Jangoo gave Red Force a balanced start, reached 37 without loss before Warrican grabbed three wickets in 21 balls to put the hosts in a spin.
Red Force were 39 for three when Ramdin arrived and with Solozano stabilised the innings before Warrican triggered another slide that saw the home team lose five wickets for 72 runs in the final session.
Pride, starting the day on 267 for five, lost their last five wickets for 38 in less than 100 balls with club-mates Kevin Stoute adding just two to his overnight 29 and Justin Greaves gathering a handy 30.
They were dismissed before the Pride reached the 300 mark, but Hayden Walsh, Jr joined West Indies Under-19 World Cup-winning all-rounder Shamar Springer and carried them past 300 to earn a third batting point before veteran leg-spinner Imran Khan bowled him and Warrican off successive balls to bring the curtain down on the innings.
Khan was the most successful Red Force bowler with 4-81 from 41.2 overs, left-arm fast medium bowler Daniel St Clair ended with 3-73 from 21 overs and off-spinner Bryan Charles finished with 2-58 from 20 overs.
