Tiger roars but T&T prevails

T&T and Guyana breathed life into regional four-day cricket yesterday after a very exciting clash at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. With Guyana needing 376 runs for victory, the fans were at the edge of their seats until 5.18 pm, when the Guyana, who were propped up by a brilliant century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul, finally caved in for 330—giving the home team a 45-run victory.

Chanderpaul used his vast experience to the hilt and featured in three excellent partnerships with Ramnaresh Sarwan, Paul Wintz and Devendra Bishoo to bring his team close to an unlikely victory. With T&T looking on course for victory after removing Tagnarine Chanderpaul (29) and Leon Johnson (0) early yesterday morning, fans would have decided to have their Sunday lunch at home but Chanderpaul and Sarwan had other ideas and would have forced the faithful to pack their lunch bags and head to the Mecca of local cricket.

The duo came together with Guyana 82 for four and night watchman Bishoo back in the pavilion, forced to retire hurt after being struck by Shannon Gabriel. They summoned all their experience to steady the Guyana ship and added a valuable 105 runs for the fifth wicket. Chanderpaul was his crabby but reassured self, while Sarwan showed glimpses of returning to top form. T&T skipper Denesh Ramdin continued with his policy of spin from one end and pace from the other and while, Amit Jaggernauth maintained the pressure from the Pavilion End, it was Gabriel bowling very hostile, who made the breakthrough. He cannoned one into Sarwan’s stumps before the right hander could have played and saw the back of him for 42 runs. Sarwan spent 129 minutes at the crease in which time he faced 72 balls and struck six sixes.

At the fall of his wicket, the Guyanese had a mini collapse and eventual man of the match Sunil Narine sent back Derwain Christian for one and Gabriel prized out skipper Verasammy Permaul for two. At 94 for seven and one man injured in the pavilion, the end was near, or at least T&T would have thought so. However, that man Chanderpaul was still there and he found a perfect partner in Paul Wintz to frustrate the locals. While Chanderpaul continued his occupation and gathered his runs quietly, Wintz played an attractive hand and reached 50 off 67 balls with 10 hits to the fence, when Narine breached his defence and sent him back with the score at 267.

Finally! The victory was near but Chanderpaul would further frustrate T&T and together with Bishoo he took Guyana close. The two added 60 runs for the ninth wicket. Bishop played well beyond his reputation offered and he and Chanderpaul inched away at the target. In the process Chanderpaul brought up his 65th First Class century but fell soon after and this gave T&T the final chance to snatch victory with just 12 minutes to go to the end. The left hander batted for 305 minutes in which time he faced 195 balls and struck 14 fours. Soon after his dismissal off Bravo, Narine ended the game with the wicket of Ronsford Beaton at 330. Narine finished with 10 wickets in the match. The teams now switch focus to their Super-50 clash tomorrow at the same venue from 2 pm.

SCOREBOARD
TT vs Guyana
TT 1st inns 319
Guyana 1st inns 195
TT 2nd inns 251/2 dec

Guyana 2nd inns
(overnight 54/1)
A Fudadin b Emrit    19
T Chanderpaul c Pollard b Bravo    29
D Bishoo not out    47
L Johnson c Pollard b Gabriel    0
N Deonarine c Emrit b Narine    7
R Sarwan b Gabriel    42
S Chanderpaul c Ramdin b Bravo    108
D Christian c DJ Bravo b Narine    1
V Permaul c DJ Bravo b Gabriel    2
P Wintz b Narine    50
R Beaton c sub b Narine    3
Extras b5, lb6, w3, nb8    22
Total all out    330
Fall of wkts: 45, 59, 60, 82, 187, 188, 194, 267, 327, 330.
Bowling: S Gabriel 15-5-49-3, D Bravo 14.4-0-49-2, S Narine 28.4-4-105-4, R Emrit 19.2-5-54-1, A Jaggernauth 11-3-35-0, I Khan 3-0-27-0.
Result: T&T won by 45 runs.
MoM: Sunil Narine.