[www.inewsguyana.com] – Half-centuries by Yannick Ottley and wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo propelled Trinidad and Tobago Red Force but Guyana Jaguars fought back to leave the ninth round contest interestingly poised heading into Monday’s final day.
Replying to Jaguars’ first innings of 291, Red Force were dismissed for 340 on Sunday at the National Stadium, with Ottley top-scoring with 82 and Katwaroo hitting 72 not out.
With the pair involved in a sixth wicket stand of 137, Red Force flourished at 310 for five but once they partnership was broken, the last five wickets fell for 30 runs.
Out-of-favour West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was the main destroyer with six for 76.
Behind by 49 runs on first innings, Guyana reached the close at 120 for three, with West Indies player Assad Fudadin hitting 50, Rajindra Chandrika getting 31 and captain Leon Johnson, 28.
Jaguars were cruising at 108 for one before off-spinner Jason Mohammed snapped up Johnson and Fudadin in successive overs, to finish with two for eight and cause a slide near the close.
Starting the third day of the WICB PCL contest on 173 for four, Red Force suffered an early loss when Yannick Cariah perished off the second ball of the day, without adding to his overnight 71.
However, Ottley and Katwaroo came together to stitch up the innings in a superb partnership that saw Red Force to tea at 307 for five.
Ottley, a 23-year-old right-hander, faced 171 balls and counted 11 fours in 3-1/4 hours at the crease while Katwaroo, 22, cracked seven fours and a six in an innings spanning 149 balls and 190 minutes.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul removed Ottley lbw in the second over after lunch and Bishoo then snared the last four wickets in quick time, to end the innings.
Guyana then got a strong start as Fudadin anchored two key partnerships at the top of the order. He put on 60 for the first wicket with Chandrika and a further 48 for the second wicket with Johnson.
Chandrika faced 65 balls and struck five fours before falling lbw to leg-spinner Imran Khan but Guyana seemed to be easing towards the safety of the close when they lost Fudadin and Johnson in quick succession.
Fudadin struck seven fours off 120 balls in 2-3/4 hours.(CMC)
