A well put together 100-run unbroken partnership between Tagenarine Chanderpaul (91) and Royston Crandon (39) spearheaded Robin Bacchus’ X1 to a comprehensive seven-wicket win against Leon Johnson’s X1 at Providence last night in the second of two practice matches in preparation for next month’s NAGICO Super50 Tournament.

Chanderpaul stroked three fours and a six from 127 balls and added a century stand for the fourth wicket with Crandon whose undefeated 39 lasted 60 balls with three fours to see Bacchus’ X1 to 192-3 in 45.1 overs, replying to 191-9 off 50 overs made by Johnson’s X1 despite a fluent 81 from 76 balls with five fours from the inform Vishaul Singh.

Bacchus (11) was LBW to Raymon Reifer at 20-1 before Gajanand Singh (19) was stumped off Steven Jacobs and Chanderpaul Hemraj (17) was bowled by Chris Barnwell to leave the score on 92-3.

It was at this stage the Chanderpaul and Crandon joined forces with Chanderpaul dumping Raun Johnson for four over mid-off to bat beautifully. He reached his 50 from 83 balls with two fours.

Chanderpaul, who scored 81 in his last match against Jamaica in Jamaica in the PCL tournament, played an array of classy shots before being left nine short of a masterful century when victory was achieved with 4.5 overs to spare.

The right-handed Crandon played the supporting role against a much stronger side which comprised most of the senior Jaguars players.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul, apart from Devendra Bishoo and Rajendra Chandrika (who are both in Australia with the West Indies team) of the PCL players missed the practice game last night under lights.

Earlier, Johnson’s X1 lost Kevin Boodie (9) at 15-1 when he edged a catch to the Keeper off Romario Sheppard who bowled with some pace on a track which surprisingly offered nice bounce for the pacers.

Assad Fudadin (12) was just beginning to look good when he was bowled by left-arm speedster Andre Stoll to leave the score on 47-2.
Singh and Johnson had batted their team to victory in the first practice match two days with the Skipper making 87 but yesterday he could only reach 5 when he was taken at point off the lively Keon Joseph, the most successful bowler with 2-21 from six overs.

After Johnson’s demise at 58-3, Barnwell (11) was also removed by Joseph when he tried to hit a six and was well taken by Bacchus running back from mid-off as Johnson’s XI slipped to 76-4 which soon became 83-5 when Reifer was caught behind off Clinton Pestano before the left-handed Singh retired hurt on 46 at 112-5.

Anthony Bramble (22) offered some fight while Steven Jacobs (10) was LBW to Anthony Adams and at 137-8 at which stage Singh resumed his innings after batting brilliantly and picked the gaps with immaculate precision.

However, on his return he took some time to get his innings restarted and although he added 44 with Paul Wintz who finished unbeaten on 17, Singh departed at 182-9 before Wintz and Gudakesh Motie (4) added 10 more runs.

But in the end, that score proved inadequate as Johnson’s X1 slumped to defeat. The Jaguars will open their campaign in the NAGICO Super50 against the Windward Islands on January 7 in St Kitts.

(Taken from Kaieteur News)