Guyana settle for first innings points

After play started three hours late because of heavy overnight rains that left part of the outfield waterlogged, the Leewards were bowled out 349, continuing from their overnight 332 for seven.

At the close, Guyana were 159 for two with captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 65 and Narsingh Deonarine, 58.

With a lead of 198, Chanderpaul had opted to bat a second time rather than attempting an outright victory, a decision that effectively killed the match as a contest.

Guyana needed a mere 46 minutes after the 1.40 pm start to grab the three remaining wickets for the addition of only 17 runs.

Carl Simon was caught at slip without any addition to his overnight ten, off the bowling of off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine who ended with career-best figures of five for 94 from 28.4 overs.

Deonarine also accounted for Alderman Lesmond (ten), caught at wide mid-off attempting a big heave, and Gavin Tonge caught and bowled for five.

In the Guyana innings, pacer Adam Sanford then had Sewnarine Chattergoon (one) caught at the wicket when his attempted hook took a leading edge, and then had Ramnaresh Sarwan brilliantly caught by a diving Steve Liburd at mid-wicket for 23.

Sarwan opened the innings after first innings century-maker and Man-of-the-Match Krishna Arjune was struck a painful blow below his knee while fielding earlier in the Leewards innings and could not take his normal place at the top of the order. Deonarine and Chanderpaul halted the slide as they shared in an undefeated third wicket stand of 130, after Guyana went to tea at 34 for two.

Chanderpaul batted for 127 minutes, faced 91 balls and struck 11 fours while Deonarine lasted 131 minutes, faced 87 balls and hit eight fours and a six over long-off off part-time bowler Runako Morton, as they opted for batting practice. Sanford ended with two for 32.