Guyana Jaguars premier opening batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj has certainly warmed up well with both bat and ball ahead of the next month’s Regional Super50 in Antigua from February 7-27.
In the final practice match on Friday at the LBI ground, he struck a well-composed 109 after picking up 5-24 in seven overs.
The left-hander, who has already had a taste of international cricket, is the one Jaguars’ batsman who looked in good form throughout the three matches after striking fast-paced 41 two days ago.
His opening partner, Trevon Griffith, got another solid start, but was to unable carry on from his 21 (4x4s).
One possible area of worry might be the form of Shimron Hetmyer, who had his stumps disturbed first ball by pacer Nial Smith, after which captain Leon Johnson was run out without facing a ball.
Christopher Barnwell and Hemraj then added 88 for the fifth wicket, with the former being adjudged out after an acrobatic catch on the long-on boundary by Ricardo Adams. Barnwell fell for a well-paced 34, striking three fours and two maximums.
Jaguars’ newbie Akshaya Persaud lobbed a catch to deep mid-wicket to fall for six of the bowling of Adams, but Hemraj ensured Johnson’s XI reached their target of 176 in 30.4 overs when he smashed back-to-back boundaries off Keon Joseph.
The first was a back-of-a-length delivery which he pumped straight back for six and the next a virtual carbon copy in the same vicinity.
However, the players opted to continue batting and they reached 209-8 in 39.2 overs. Hemraj was dismissed caught and bowled by Devendra Bishoo (2-17); he struck seven sixes and eight fours.
Anthony Bramble made 13 before becoming Adams’ second victim, as he ended with figures of 2-14 from six overs, while Smith took 2-24 in four overs.
Earlier, Assad Fudadin struck three maximums and four fours in his 39 and Jonathan Foo made 12 as the other top order batsmen fell cheaply.
Romario Shepherd made an unbeaten 43 (2x4s; 2x6s) and had support from Gudakesh Motie (31) and Kevin Sinclair (15), which got Vishaul Singh’s XI to 175 in 39.2 overs.
Backing up Hemraj’s brilliance with the ball were Riche Looknauth (1-5), Demitri Cameron (1-19), Ramaal Lewis (1-16), Anthony Adams (1-20) and Steven Sankar (1-48).
According to Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI), on Saturday the team will do the first of two tests scheduled prior to their departure, after which they are required to isolate before their second on January 27.
Upon arrival in Antigua, the Jaguars will undergo two-day room isolation, after which they will do a third test on February 2 and a fourth test on February 6, between which players will be allowed to practice as a group, CGI added.
Guyana Jaguars squad: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Trevon Griffith, Christopher Barnwell, Leon Johnson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer (Vice-captain), Assad Fudadin, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach.
