Leeward Islands' Shane Jeffers gathers runs on the on-side during his innings of 63 yesterday. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
Teenage off-spinner Zaheer Mohammed took 3-62 but half-centuries from Shane Jeffers and skipper Stuart Williams spurred the Leeward Islands to 234-5 at close of the first day's play of their four-day Carib Beer regional first-class cricket match against Guyana at Enmore yesterday.
Mohammed, who hails from Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara and who turned 18 last month, flighted the ball beautifully on a slow track with some turn to finish his first day in first-class cricket with 3-62 from 23 impressive overs.
However, the home team, without a point in the competition so far, allowed the Leewards batsmen to put together three half-century partnerships on a very fast outfield to put the visitors, with nine points to their name, on top at the end of day one.
Former West Indies opener Williams, batted with confidence to finish unbeaten on 60, 40 runs away from his 20th regional first- class century. With him is all-rounder Wilden Cornwall who is yet to score.
The Leewards won the toss and elected to bat in sunny conditions and a handful of spectators saw them slowly progress to 62 before Adams, who hit eight fours from 118 minutes of batting in his 47, was caught at short-leg off Mohammed on the stroke of lunch.
After the interval, Sylvester Joseph who made 195 against Kenya, was run out at the non-striker's end as the ball deflected from the finger tips of Damodar Daesrath from a powerful Jeffers drive.
Joesph's 32 included two fours and came from 110 minutes. His demise left the Leewards on 137-2 and ended an entertaining 75-run second wicket partnership.
By tea the visitors were in control on 142-2 with Jeffers on 63 after reaching his second half-century this season from 166 balls and 211 minutes with five fours.
After tea, Jeffers edged a ball which turned across him and was well taken low to his left by skipper Neil McGarrell at slip to give Mohammed his second wicket and leave the score on 145-3.
Mohammed, who could consider himself unlucky not to be in Bangladesh with the West Indies under-19 team, struck three runs later when Tonito Willett (1) was bowled off the under edge cutting at a ball which turned back from off-stump.
Williams, batting at number five, played some delightful shots including two consecutive fours over extra cover off Mohammed and reached his fifty from 69 balls, in 87 minutes and with nine fours.
Williams, one of three Leewards' batsmen to record centuries this season, added 82 runs for the fifth wicket with Carl Tuckett who hit a ton off Kenya before vice-captain Travis Dowlin induced Tuckett (26) to push forward and had him caught at short-leg at 230-5.
Williams and Cornwall then saw their team to the close when rain stopped play at three minutes before the scheduled 5-o-clock close. Today is the second day and play is scheduled to commence at 10: AM.
Guyana left out left-arm spinner Hemnarine Harrinarine and pacer Reon Thomas from their final eleven as Leon Johnson at 16 years, 175 days, became the second youngest Guyanese behind Ramnaresh Sarwan to play first-class cricket in the last decade.
The Leewards left out off-spinning all rounder Chaka Hodge and pacer Dane Weston from their final eleven.
Today the Guyanese, who should have to bat last in this game, will hope to restrict the Islanders to a total under 325 to give them a good chance of claiming first innings points.