Wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble struck his second First-Class century in as many matches to place Guyana Jaguars in the driver’s seat on day one against Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Stadium, Providence.
The hosts amassed 307-6, compliments of another great innings of stature and fluency by Bramble, who made 168 off 151 balls.
Supporting the cause with a gutsy innings was Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who crept to unbeaten 71 off 297 balls. Romario Shepherd was other not out batsman on five.
Bramble, who cracked an unbeaten 130 in his previous match against Barbados Pride, scored his third First-Class ton in the post-lunch session of just 89 balls, striking 11 fours and four sixes.
He did the bulk of the scoring during the second session, as Chanderpaul only added 25 to his lunch score of 18.
Earlier, captain Leon Johnson called correctly at the toss and opted to bat in slightly overcast conditions and it proved to be a testing period with Josh Thomas and Windies pacer Sherman Lewis extracting good bounce and seam movement.
Trevon Griffith looked to fight fire with fire and smashed two well-timed boundaries, but got a cracking delivery from Thomas to be dismissed. The left-hander was turned square by a Thomas delivery which took the edge and was taken by the keeper in front of first slip.
His 14 runs came off 19 deliveries.
Skipper Johnson came in and looked confident, stroking an eye-catching four, but threw it away, aimlessly reaching for one to be snapped up at gully for five.
It left Jaguars 27-2 until Shimron Hetmyer (26) and Chanderpaul added 44 for the third wicket taking the hosts to 70-2 at the lunch interval.
Hetmyer, known for his pugnacious batting, had to put the big shots away, leaving balls just outside the off-stump.
Chanderpaul was characteristically resolute at the other end, tiring the bowlers with his wealth of patience. It was not long before Hetmyer opened his arms with some crisp drives and wristy shots over mid-wicket which forced Volcanoes to set a defensive field even though there was still some amount of movement for the faster men.
Hetmyer fell third ball after lunch for 26, edging to third slip and his dismissal paved the way for the Bramble show.
After reaching 280-4, Jaguars made a hash of the position of strength as Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed for a second ball duck and Keemo Paul was run-out for three.
Lanky seamer Thomas ended with 3-62 and got support from Ray Jordan 1-42 and Lewis 1-43. Action resumes on Friday at 09:30h. Admission to the venue is free.
