Sarwan (121) leads Guyana recovery

BRIDGETOWN: Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a superb 121 and captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul supported with 81 to revive Guyana from early peril and reach 248 for seven against Barbados on the opening day of their Carib Beer International Challenge yesterday. Both West Indies players shared a defiant fourth-wicket stand of 203 that dominated the day. But left-arm pacers Pedro Collins and Ian Bradshaw regained Barbados’ initiative by taking four quick wickets late in the day. Collins ended with four for 72, while Bradshaw took two for 38. Sarwan, the 23-year-old West Indies vice-captain, cracked 13 boundaries in his second century on the trot. The elegant right-hander’s 13th first-class century spanned 203 balls and five hours, 10 minutes. Left-hander Chanderpaul, 29, stroked nine fours off 192 deliveries in four hours, 45 minutes.

It could have been so different if Barbados, the defending International Challenge champions, had not floored four catches at crucial stages. Recently crowned 2004 Carib Beer Cup winners Barbados gained the early initiative after captain Courtney Browne won the toss. Collins, the second-highest wicket-taker in the seven preliminary rounds with 33, made the initial breakthrough after 45 minutes. The 27-year-old removed Ryan Ramdass (14), whose faint edge was claimed down the leg side by wicket-keeper Browne. Next over, Corey Collymore struck as left-hander Sewnarine Chattergoon (12) paid for his misjudgment and was trapped leg before wicket playing no stroke. Two runs later, it was 29 for three as Collins claimed Travis Dowlin for one. The right-hander was plumb leg before to a wicked, in-swinging yorker.

Chanderpaul should have been dismissed before he had scored, but Ryan Hinds at third slip floored a shoulder-high chance off Collins. The Guyana skipper was three when Martin Nurse at gully put down a more difficult offering from Chanderpaul’s square cut at Collins. Just after lunch, a diving Fidel Edwards at mid-wicket could not hang on to another tough chance off Dwayne Smith’s medium pace. Chanderpaul was then 18 and the score 80 for three. The pair went to tea at 141 for three, and survived another slice of luck first ball on resumption when Sarwan’s pull was floored off Collymore. The right-hander was 60 as Bradshaw spilled the regulation catch at square leg. Once Bradshaw made the breakthrough with the dismissals of Chanderpaul and Sarwan within one run of each other, Guyana faltered. Both batsmen were caught by wicket-keeper Browne. Chanderpaul edged a cut, while Sarwan snicked a drive. Collins returned just before the end to gain leg before verdicts against Narsingh Deonaine (two) and Neil McGarrell (four). Damodar Dasrath was unbeaten nine and Mahendra Nagamootoo nought not out at the close.      

Scoreboard
BARBADOS vs GUYANA
Guyana 1st inns:

S Chattergoon LBW b Collymore 12
R Ramdass c Browne b Collins 14
R Sarwan c Browne b Bradshaw 121
T Dowlin LBW b Collins 1
S Chanderpaul c Browne b Bradshaw 81
N Deonarine LBW b Collins 2
D Dasrath not out 9
N McGarrell LBW b Collins 4
M Nagamootoo not out 0
EXTRAS (LB3, NB1) 4
Total for seven wickets 248
Fall of wickets: 27; 27; 29; 232; 233; 243; 247.
TO BAT: V Nagamootoo, R Griffith.
BOWLING: Collins 20-3-72-4; Edwards 14-3-50-0; Collymore 13-2-56-1 (NB1); Bradshaw 30-15-38-2; Smith 5-1-18-0; Hinds 8-2-11-0.