Inspired by brilliant individual efforts from West Indies pair Shimron Hetmyer and Raymon Reifer, and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, Guyana Jaguars stormed into the final of the CG Insurance Super50 Cup, whipping Windward Islands Volcanoes by 95 runs in the second semi-final on Thursday in Antigua.
Playing at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Jaguars recovered from an early wobble to post 305-7 and then dismissed Volcanoes for 210 to book their place in Saturday’s final against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the same venue.
Batting first, Jaguars were given a start of 34 by openers Chandrapaul Hemraj (24) and Tevin Imlach (14), but they departed with 10 runs of each other and Christopher Barnwell (8) and skipper Leon Johnson, who fell first ball, soon followed as they slipped to 63-4 by the 13th over.
Hetmyer was joined by Reifer, playing his first game since returning from the West Indies tour of Bangladesh, and they repaired the early damage with a magnificent fifth wicket partnership of 194.
Hetmyer turned up in a major way, scoring his seventh List A ton- a shot-filled 113 off 80 balls, inclusive of 11 fours and five sixes. Reifer missed out on what would been his maiden List A hundred, falling for 90 off 108 balls (8x4s, 3x6s), his highest score in the format.
Ryan John picked up 3-42 and Ray Jordan, who sparked the Jaguars top-order collapse, ended with 3-45.
Volcanoes got a good start of 54 in 13.1 overs by Kaveem Hodge and Alick Athanaze, but the next best partnership was 31 as Jaguars bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Motie was the most successful of the lot, claiming 4-53, his third four-wicket haul of the season. His 16 wickets are the most by a bowler in the competition.
Fellow left-arm spinner Hemraj ended with 2-35, while off-spinner Kevin Sinclair had 1-33 and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul 1-35.
The championship game will bowl off at 13:30h and the teams would be playing for the Sir Clive Lloyd Trophy.
