[www.inewsguyana.com] – Leg-spinner Damion Jacobs took his fourth five-wicket haul in his brief first class career to hand Jamaica Franchise the lead over leaders Guyana Jaguars in their eighth round game here Saturday.
The 30-year-old, who shot to prominence in the latter stages of last year’s first class competition, finished with five for 67 to send Guyana crashing to 236 all out in their first innings.
Armed with a slim 22-run lead, Jamaica then lost Shacaya Thomas without scoring to crawl to the close at the National Stadium on 22 for one – an overall lead of 44 runs.
Opener John Campbell was unbeaten on ten and Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood, eight.
Resuming the second day on 35 without loss, Guyana was carried by West Indies left-hander Leon Johnson who top scored with 78 and opener Rajindra Chandrika who got 69.
Left-handers Assad Fudadin (29) and Narsingh Deonarine (23) both got starts but failed to carry on.
Chandrika and Fudadin stretched their first innings partnership to 78 before Fudadin popped a catch to Thomas at short leg off leg-spinner Odean Brown, after facing 67 balls and striking four fours in 1-1/2 hours at the crease.
Johnson joined Chandrika to prevent any further loss and take the Jaguars to lunch at 121 for one.
After the break, Chandrika added just five before falling lbw to seamer Dave Bernard Jr. He faced 139 balls and counted eight fours.
Johnson then held the innings together as his counterparts got starts but failed to hang around. Overall, he faced 177 balls, in just over four hours at the crease and struck ten fours.
He lost Deonarine in the second session and was partnered by veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul on ten, with Guyana on 188 for three at tea.
Jacobs, who had earlier claimed Deonarine, then removed Chanderpaul after the West Indies player had added a mere three runs to his tea time score with Guyana having moved on to 196 for four.
Unbeaten on 50 at the tea interval, Johnson’s march towards three figures was halted when Jacobs removed him on the stroke of the drinks break. (CMC)
