Back in business! Mahendra Naga-mootoo returned to the national team after a two-match suspension with a fine 58 against Windies 'B' at Enmore yesterday. Here the left-hander goes over the top for one of his five boundaries. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
Former West Indies test player Mahendra Nagamootoo hit a responsible 58 yesterday against West Indies 'B', to score his sixth first-class 50, facing 115 balls over 171 minutes before he was last out as Guyana fell for 419 on the stroke of tea.
Nagamootoo returned to first-class cricket after serving a two-match suspension imposed on him by the national selectors for his involvement in a fist-fight with Lennox Cush during a third-round game in Dominica. The left-handed batsman batted solidly hitting five fours.
All-rounder Damodar Daesrath hit a well compiled 56 from 118 balls over 172 minutes decorated with six fours and along with Nagamootoo added 56 for the eighth-wicket to help set the West Indies 'B' an uphill task to clinch first innings points on a slow and low track.
By the close of the second day's play the visitors were 96 for two, still 327 runs away from Guyana's total with Guyanese Ryan Ramdas (16) and Shawn Findley (14) both already dismissed.
A good size and very vocal crowd watched as the home team began the day on 266 for five and progressed to 341 for seven by lunch with Daesrath (54) and the experienced Nagamootoo (4) at the crease.
Skipper and overnight batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul added just two to his first day's 16, before he edged a catch to wicket keeper Patrick Browne off pacer Jason Bennett to leave Guyana on 288 for six, 33 minutes into the day's play.
Neil McGarrell (4) provided Browne with his fourth catch behind the stumps as Guyana slipped to 298 for seven as fast bowler Dwight Washington struck.
Daesrath, in only his third regional first-class game, and Nagamootoo carried the score to 354 before two wickets fell on that score.
Daesrath was run out, while Vishal Nagamootoo was LBW for a first ball duck to leave Guyana in danger of falling below the 400 run mark.
With spicy chutney, soca and dub music blasting from the Slingerz Sound System in between overs and plenty of support from the home fans, who included the Carib girls, the last pair of Nagamootoo and Rayon Griffith frustrated the well-organized Windies 'B' with an entertaining 65-run last wicket stand before Nagamootoo had his middle stump knocked out by Antonio Thomas.
Griffith who made an unbeaten 82 against West Indies 'B' last year, offered excellent support to Nagamootoo in his 20 from 44 balls as Guyana passed 400 runs for the first time in the series.
Bennett, the Barbadian pacer, was again impressive and finished with four for 83 from 28 overs on a track where the bowlers had to work hard for success.
Washington, with two for 79, supported Bennett who took his wicket tally to 23 in the competition.
When the West Indies 'B' began their reply, Ramdas, the visitor's leading batsman in the competition, failed to get going on home soil and was trapped LBW to Nagamootoo, whose body language yesterday suggested that he was once again enjoying his cricket after a lacklustre showing in the first three games overseas.
From 26 for one, Windies 'B' reached 55 before Findley was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner and former captain Neil McGarrell to spark celebrations among the spectators, many of them perched in trees outside the ground and on top of parked trucks filled with GUYSUCO workers.
With Guyana pressing for more success before the close to give them enough time to bowl out the visitors twice, skipper Jason Haynes (40 with six fours from 110 balls) and Danza Haytt (20) added 41 in an unfinished third wicket stand as Nagamootoo, still not back to his best form with the ball, eased the pressure on the batsmen with a few lose overs.
Good captaincy and committed work in the outfield by the Chanderpaul-led Guyana team, supported the bowlers, all of whom - with the exception of Nagamootoo (10-3-37-1) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1-0-12-0) - conceded less than two runs per over.
Nagamootoo, the Caribbean's fourth leading wicket taker, finished with one for 37 from ten overs. McGarrell, who along with Clyde Butts (270) and Nagamootoo (242) are the only Guyanese bowlers with 200 regional first class wickets, picked up one for 18 from 14 overs.
An action-packed third day is anticipated today as the Windies 'B' aim to overhaul the Guyana total against bowlers, who know they need to be attacking since their team is in a must-win situation. Guyana must win this game outright to stand an outside chance to qualify for the semi finals.