Chanderpaul, bowlers put Jaguars in sight of win

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Shiv Chanderpaul stroked his 129th first class half-century and fast bowler Keon Joseph grabbed two wickets as leaders Guyana Jaguars closed in on yet another victory in the WICB Professional Cricket League here yesterdayy.The veteran West Indies left-hander hit a top score of 77 to help lift Jaguars from a dodgy position of 54 for four, to 202 all out in their second innings on day three.

Joseph then struck two telling blows as the hosts, set a target of 340 for victory, stumbled to the close at Sabina Park at 105 for six.
Heading into today’s final day, Jamaica still require a further 235 for victory with four wickets remaining, leaving Jaguars in pole position for the major points.
The day could have gone so much differently for Guyana, were it not for the intervention of the 40-year-old Chanderpaul.
Leading by 137 on first innings, Guyana started the day hoping for a big innings and got one from the dependable Chanderpaul who held the innings together with a typically responsible knock.
In his 337th first class match, Chanderpaul picked up from his overnight six, facing 184 balls in 260 minutes at the crease, and striking 11 fours and a six.
Along the way, he put on 51 for the fifth wicket with Chris Barnwell who stroked a breezy 28 from 29 balls, an innings that gave Jaguars impetus.
When Guyana lost four wickets for 45 runs before lunch to slide to 150 for eight, Chanderpaul combined with Ronsford Beaton (10) to add a crucial 40 for the ninth wicket and further frustrate Jamaica.
Chanderpaul was eventually last out, caught at the wicket off seamer David Bernard Jr.
Fast bowler Marquino Mindley was the best bowler with three for 51 while Bernard (2-24) and leg-spinners Odean Brown (2-29) and Damion Jacobs (2-35), all finished with two wickets each.
Jamaica then suffered a collapse to crash to 72 for six before Jacobs and Bernard came together in an unbroken seventh wicket stand which has so far yielded 33, and held up the rampant Guyana outfit.
Jacobs was unbeaten on 24 from 35 balls with four fours while Bernard was on 16 from 47 balls in nearly an hours at the crease, opting to play the sheet anchor role.
Beaton had earlier gotten the breakthrough when he had John Campbell caught by Veerasammy Permaul at point for eight with the score on nine in the third over of the innings.
Joseph, who has two for 20, then claimed the prized wickets of Nkrumah Bonner (1) and Jermaine Blackwood (7) to put Jaguars on top.
The right-armer trapped Bonner lbw in the sixth over with the score on 11 and in his next over, knocked over Blackwood to a catch by Raymon Reifer, as Jamaica slumped to 17 for three.
Captain Tamar Lambert tried to dig in with a top score of 29 off 65 balls with five fours but was fifth out with the score on 71 with much work left to be done.

JAM 123/6 (43 ov) Bernard 25* & Jacobs 32* (Partnership 53 Runs) TARGET 340