Barbadian Kyle Hope stroked a half-century but it was not enough to prevent a dominant Guyana Jaguars side from posting their fourth straight win of the Regional First Class Championship with a massive innings and 49-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Monday.
Gudakesh Motie celebrates a wicket
Starting the final day on 52 for two requiring a further 213 to make the visitors bat again, Red Force battled to 136 for two at Queen’s Park Oval before suffering a sensational collapse to be bowled out for 216.
Jaguars were propelled by West Indies player Veerasammy Permaul who claimed five for 62 while fellow left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie picked up four for 43.
The right-handed Hope hit a top score of 74, adding a crucial 104 for the third wicket with left-hander Narsingh Deonarine who made 47.
However, once the partnership was broken, Red Force lost eight wickets for 80 runs as Jaguars coasted to victory in their fourth round encounter.
They have vaulted clear at the top of the standings on 70 points while Red Force remained fourth on 30 points.
Hope and Deonarine offered Red Force plenty hope at the start in a handy partnership that denied Jaguars any success early on.
The attractive Hope stroked 13 boundaries in an innings consuming 146 balls and 2-1/2 hours while Guyanese Deonarine, in his first season with Red Force, stroked eight fours off 100 balls.
Once Motie removed Deonarine, however, the innings plunged into decline and never recovered. Hope followed soon afterward, caught at the wicket off Permaul at 146 for four and without a run added, Yannick Ottley was bowled without scoring, four over later.
Wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo and tail-ender Marlon Richards, both of whom scored 15, put on 24 for the eighth over while Uthman Muhammad (16) Kavesh Kantasingh (nine not out) added a defiant 25 for the last wicket, but it was not enough to stop Jaguars’ push to victory.