AFTER seeing national all-rounder Christopher Barnwell scuttle out the opposition with his swing and pace, national opener Rajendra Chandrika blazed his way to an unbeaten half-century which helped placed Leon Johnson’s XI in ascendancy position at the end of the second day of their four-day practice match against Vishaul Singh’s XI at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground yesterday.

Resuming on their overnight score of 16 without loss in response to Johnson’s XI first-innings score of 240, Singh’s XI were bowled out for 194 with Barnwell claiming 5 for 57, while there were two wickets each for Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai.

With a lead of 46, Johnson’s XI recovered from 33 for 2 to be 73 for 2 at the close of play for an overall lead of 119, with Chandrika unbeaten on 53 and Narsingh Deonarine 8, while Steven Jacobs has so far taken 2 for 12.

Earlier in the day, Kandasammy Surujnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul resumed their innings on 2 and 9 respectively, and took the overnight score from 16 to 33, before Surujnarine, who was given a life the previous afternoon by Deonarine at slip off Paul Wintz, was caught at the wicket by Anthony Bramble, the first of Barnwell’s five victims.

Barnwell, the Demerara Cricket Club first division captain then removed Shimron Hetmyer (4) and Singh (0), while Wintz got the scalp of Chanderpaul for 26 that included four fours to leave the opposition on 50 for 4.

Ricardo Adams and Royston Crandon set about repairing the damage with their 29-run fifth-wicket partnership which was broken when Permaul removed Ricardo Adams for 20 (3×4) at 79 for 5 and soon after it was 87 for 7 following the quick demise of Jacobs (0) and Crandon.

At this stage, Jason Sinclair and Kemo Paul went about ‘Operation Recovery’ for their team by adding 85 for the eighth wicket, before Sinclair who topscored with 58 (8×4) was sent back by Motie-Kanhai at 165 for 8.

The innings folded shortly after for 194, with Paul being dismissed by Permaul for 37 (2×4, 1×6) while Motie-Kanhai wrapped things up with the wicket of Anthony Adams (02), leaving Amir Khan unbeaten on 12.

Motie-Kanhai had 2 for 28 and Permaul 2 for 34 in support to Barnwell, who later watched as Chandrika and Trevon Griffith (9) solidified their team’s lead by adding 33 for the first wicket before Griffith and Robin Bacchus (0) were both dismissed by Jacobs at 33.

However, Deonarine joined Chandrika and together they have so far added 40 for their unbroken third-wicket partnership, heading into today’s third day action which begins at 09:30hrs, with Johnson’s XI enjoying a healthy lead.

(Taken from Guyana Chronicle, by Calvin Roberts)