BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Rampant Leeward Islands Hurricanes produced an incisive all-round performance to stun leaders Guyana Jaguars and leave them tottering on the second day of their Regional four-day contest at Warner Park here, yesterday.
The hosts piled up 412 for nine declared with Montcin Hodge top-scoring with 91, Keacy Carty getting 82, Jahmar Hamilton, 56 and Terrance Ward, 52.
Sherfane Rutherford was the best bowler with three for 92 while fellow pacer Romario Shepherd (2-64) and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-104) were the other wicket-takers.
In reply, seamer Jeremiah Louis made two key early strikes as Jaguars collapsed badly to end the day on 53 for six – still 359 runs behind on first innings heading into today’s penultimate day.
Chanderpaul Hemraj got 23 while West Indies left-hander Vishaul Singh was carrying the fight on 17 not out but key batsmen like captain Leon Johnson and veteran former West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul perished cheaply to leave Jaguars against the ropes.
Left with just over an hour to navigate in the final session, Jaguars were quickly in trouble when left-hander Tagenarine Chanderpaul edged a defensive push at Louis and was caught low down by captain Rahkeem Cornwall at first slip for three with the score on six in the third over.
In Louis’ next over, Johnson offered no stroke to one too close to off-stump and was bowled for two with as many runs added to the total.
Hemraj then played positively, striking three fours and a six off 31 deliveries, adding 31 for the third wicket with Vishaul.
The partnership was flourishing when the left-handed Hemraj gave debutant seamer Stanny Simon his maiden first class wicket in his first over, driving the right-armer, to be well caught at point by Carty, at 39 for three.
In the next over with no runs added, nightwatchman Veerasammy Permaul was run-out without scoring after Vishaul pushed to Louis at cover and called for a sharp single, and Shiv Chanderpaul perished for five with the score on 47, caught high at slip by Hamilton pushing forward to off-spinner Cornwall.
Jaguars appeared to be battling their way safely to the close when Anthony Bramble had a rush of blood and needlessly holed out to mid-off in off-spinner Terrance Ward’s first over, to depart without scoring and signal the end of play.
Resuming earlier from 181 for one, Hurricanes lost momentum in the first session, losing four wickets for the addition of 74 runs, to stumble to lunch at 255 for five.
Hodge, unbeaten on the start on 72, fell just short of three figures when he was bowled by seamer Keemo Paul after facing 333 deliveries and counting 11 fours and a six.
He put on 165 for the second wicket with Carty who struck five fours and a six in a 232-ball knock before going, caught at the wicket off Rutherford – a dismissal which sparked a slide that saw three wickets fall for a single run just before lunch.
Devon Thomas fell after the break for 20 but Hamilton anchored two stands to frustrate Jaguars, putting on 51 for the sixth wicket with Cornwall (28) and 69 for the seventh wicket with Ward, as the hosts reached tea at 351 for six.
Hamilton faced 98 balls and struck five fours and a six while Ward notched four fours and a six in a 126-ball innings, to gather a half-century on first class debut.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Scorpions, resuming on 77 without loss, reached 111 for two at the close on a rain-hit second day of their day/night third round Regional four-day match against Barbados Pride at Sabina Park yesterday.
