SUPER50: Centurion Hetmyer powers Jaguars to second win

Shimron Hetmyer’s maiden List A hundred powered Guyana Jaguars to a commanding eight-wicket win over USA in the Super50 on Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.

Hetmyer’s boundary-studded 103 off 69 balls lifted Jaguars to 191-2, with skipper Leon Johnson ending on 50 not out off 63 balls. Hetmyer, batting at number three, tore into the attack from ball one, reaching three figure off just 64 balls. Victory was achieved in 32.2 overs.

Such was Hetmyer’s dominance of the attack that he clobbered eight fours and seven sixes against the hapless bowlers. The former West Indies Under-19 skipper added 118 in 16 overs with Johnson after Shivnarine Chanderpaul retired hurt on eight.

Chandrapaul Hemraj was dismissed for seven early in the chase, and Raymon Reifer (11*) accompanied Johnson to the target after Hetmyer fell for 103 off 69 balls.

Earlier, tidy bowling from Jaguars line-up limited USA to 188-8, although that score represents a recovery from 99-7 after they won the toss and elected to take first strike.

USA slipped to 10-3, losing all three batsmen- Sunny Sohal, Jaskaran Malhotra and Ibrahim Khaleel- without scoring. Ex-West Indies player Xavier Marshall then struck 51, but was given little support at the other end.

Had it not been for an eight-wicket stand of 89 in 20 overs between Elmore Hutchinson and Mrunal Patel, USA were in danger of being dismissed even more cheaply. Hutchinson made 45 and Patel remained unbeaten on 43 when the innings ended. 

Bowling for Jaguars, Veerasammy Permaul took 2-29 off 10 overs, Keemo Paul 2-32 and Reifer 2-43. Clinton Pestano (1-19) and Devendra Bishoo (1-15) were the other wicket-takers. 

The victory was Jaguars’ second in as many games after they defeated Kent by 35 runs in the opening match.