Guyana Jaguars outplayed by pumped-up Rest Side
SUMMARY: Rest Side 288-9 from 50 overs (Vishaul Singh 88*, Alimohamed 58, Kemol Savory 34, Tevin Imlach 30, Ramaal Lewis 2-36, Raymon Reifer 2-60) v Guyana Jaguars 190 all out in 42.1 overs (Christopher Barnwell 41, Chandrapaul Hemraj 39, Ramaal Lewis 39, Anthony Bramble 34, Ashmead Nedd 4-65, Ronaldo Alimohamed 2-27, Keon Joseph 2-34)
By Avenash Ramzan
In a far from perfect performance on Friday at Enmore, the Guyana Jaguars were severely tested by a motivated Rest Side in the second and final practice game ahead of the national side’s participation in the Colonial Medical Insurance Regional Super50 Cup, starting next week.
Watched on by a small, but boisterous crowd, big enough to make a mockery of the modern-day turnout for regional cricket matches in Guyana, the Rest Side thumped Leon Johnson’s side by 98 runs, giving the Jaguars some perspective as they head off to Trinidad on Monday.
A solid batting effort, instigated by the calming maturity of Vishaul Singh, and complemented by the youthful exuberance of Ronaldo Alimohamed, powered the Rest Side to 288-9 from the allotted 50 overs.
After the loss of Trevin Griffith for a breezy 18 off 13 balls (2x6s), Guyana Jaguars selectee Kemol Savory and West Indies Youth World Cup winner Tevin Imlach consolidated the innings with a partnership of 52.
Almost every run scored or dot ball faced by the wicketkeeping pair was followed by words of encouragement from the chirpy Singh sitting in the players’ quarters.
The partnership ended when Imlach was trapped leg before by off-spinner Ramaal Lewis for 30, and the Jamaican followed by removing Kevlon Anderson without scoring, paving the way for Singh to join Savory.
They added 38 for the fourth wicket, before Savory was leg before to left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul for 34. Kevin Sinclair, who will turn out for West Indies Emerging Players Squad in the Super50, was run out for 10, an innings that included a massive six off Permaul.
With half the side gone, Jaguars were hoping for an early finish to the innings, but Singh, more known for dogged resistance, found an adventurous partner in Alimohamed, who tore into the bowling attack.
A partnership of 94 in quick time drained the enthusiasm of the Jaguars and ignited the crowd, as Alimohamed peppered the off-side field, the most memorable shot being a gigantic six over extra-cover.
By the time Alimohamed raced to 58 off 39 balls (7x4s, 2x6s), Singh was motoring along nicely, rotating the strike with precision and picking off the odd boundary.
And while Alimohamed was all about brute force, Singh, the diminutive left-hander eased to 88 not out off 102 balls, giving a timely reminder that conventional cricket shots are still a key element in limited overs cricket.
Bowling for Jaguars, the overseas pair Lewis and Raymon Reifer had 2-36 (10) and 2-60 (8) respectively, while there was one apiece for Permaul (1-38 off 10) and the pace duo Ronsford Beaton (1-66 off 10) and Nial Smith (1-72 off 9).
The chase that never was
Faced with an uphill chase, Jaguars were rocked early by the pacey Keon Joseph, who had opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (7) and skipper Leon Johnson (6), both caught behind by Imlach, before Alimohamed removed Jonathon Foo, caught and bowl for one.
From there it was basically survival mode, and despite the best efforts of Chandrapaul Hemraj (39 off 71), Christopher Barnwell (41 off 47), Lewis (39 off 44) and Anthony Bramble (34 off 43), the Jaguars could only manage 190.
Left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, who, like Sinclair, is also part of the West Indies Emerging Players Squad, took 4-65, to follow up the good early work of Alimohamed (2-27) and Joseph (2-34).
The Jaguars won the first match at the GCC ground, Bourda, on Wednesday.
