ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC) - Darren Sammy missed out a maiden first-class hundred, but a career-best bowling performance from Reon Griffith brought Guyana back into their third round match of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series against Windward Islands at the Botanic Gardens yesterday.
When stumps were drawn on an absorbing third day, Guyana, set 255 to win,were 41 without loss, after Sammy top-scored with 87 and Griffith captured six wickets for 44 runs from 16.5 overs in the Windwards’ second innings total of 242.
Griffith bowled steadily whenever he was given the ball and removed four of the Windwards’ top-order, including Sammy, in an inspired bowling performance as the home team failed to capitalise on a half-century opening stand from Devon Smith and Romel Currency.
Sammy, who arrived at the crease with Windwards a little wobbly on 90 for three, batted confidently in a 3-1/4 hour innings that contained 11 fours and one six from 158 balls and was his highest score in five first-class matches.
He and captain Rawl Lewis added 60 for the fifth wicket that was the highest partnership of the innings before he was ninth out driving Griffith to cover.
Left-arm spin bowler Neil McGarrell, the Guyana captain, supported with two for 61 from 20 overs to help bring the visitors back into the match.
Windwards continued from their bedtime position of 13 without loss and benefitted from a 75-run first wicket stand between left-hander Smith and Currency.
Griffith, however, captured three wickets in penetrative burst in the last hour before lunch to send Windwards crashing to 99 for four at the interval.
Currency was caught behind off McGarrell from 25, Roland Wilkinson, the first innings top-scorer, was bowled by Griffith for nought, Lindon James was caught at gully off Griffith for 10, and Smith was caught at mid-wicket off Griffith for 52 off 97 balls that lasted two hours and contained nine fours.
After the interval, Sammy and Lewis spent most of the time repairing the damage with their partnership as this was the most testing period for both sides, but the Windwards emerged to reach 193 for seven at tea.
Esuan Crandon made the breakthrough when Lewis, the Windwards captain, was caught at square leg for 21, Shane Shillingford was caught at slip for two, and Deighton Butler was caught at long-on for three.
After the break, the Guyanese worked diligently to complete the demolition job and, hopefully, start a journey they would like to see end in victory today.
WINDWARD ISLANDS 1st Innings 204 (R. Wilkinson 64; M. Nagamootoo 4-79) GUYANA 1st Innings 192 (T. Dowlin 78; C. Cuffy 3-27) WINDWARD ISLANDS 2nd Innings (overnight 13 without loss) D. Smith c Deonarine b Griffith 52 R. Currency c wkpr V. Nagamootoo b *McGarrell 25 R. Wilkinson b Griffith 0 +L. James c Percival b Griffith 10 D. Sammy c *McGarrell b Griffith 87 *R. Lewis c (sub) Haniff b Crandon 21 S. Shillingford c *McGarrell b Cush 2 D. Butler c Griffith b *McGarrell 3 O. Jackson lbw b Griffith 0 F. Thomas b Griffith 27 C. Cuffy not out 3 Extras (b1, lb5, w1, nb5) 12 TOTAL (all out) 242 Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-76, 3-90, 4-93, 5-153, 6-158, 7-193, 8-196, 9-225. Bowling: Griffith 16.5-2-44-6 (nb1); Crandon 14-3-34-1 (nb1); M. Nagamootoo 14-2-64-0 (nb3, w1); *McGarrell 20-7-61-2; Cush 15-5-33-1. GUYANA 2nd Innings (target: 255) S. Chattergoon not out 12 K. Arjune not out 26 Extras (nb3) 3 TOTAL (without loss) 41 Bowling: Cuffy 4-0-10-0 (nb1); Thomas 3-0-17-0 (nb1); Shillingford 3-2-6-0; Sammy 1-1-0-0; *Lewis 3-0-7-0 (nb1); Jackson 1-0-1-0. Position: Guyana trail Windward Islands by 214 runs with all second Innings wickets standing.