Sarwan falls one short of first double century
-Guyana in control against Kenya in Carib Beer cricket
By Sean Devers at Bourda
Stabroek News
February 21, 2004
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Ramnaresh Sarwan fell one run short of recording his first, and the competition's third double-century this year while leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo became the third bowler in regional first-class cricket to capture 250 wickets as Guyana finished the second day of their seventh-round Carib Beer four-day cricket clash against Kenya in firm control yesterday.
On a Bourda track with little help for the bowlers, another good-size workingday crowd saw Nagamootoo grab three quick late-afternoon wickets as Kenya slipped from 82-2 to 104-5 replying to Guyana's 444 all out.
Kenya still need another 340 runs for first innings points but Guyana, who must win this game outright to stay in the race for a semi-final place, will fancy their chances of dismissing the visitors below the 295 run follow-on target today on a track already beginning to keep low.
After medium-pacer Damodar Daesrath, who moved the ball both ways off the seam in hot conditions sent back Kenya's leading run scorer Kennedy Obuya (3) and teenage all-rounder Rageb Aga(1) to leave the East Africans on 15-2, Nagamootoo grabbed three wickets towards the close of play to move to 251 regional first-class wickets.
Nagamootoo, the former test player, who missed two matches this season owing to a ban imposed on him by the national selectors, needs another three wickets to join Ranji Nanan on 254 and 19 to level with the record holder Clyde Butts who has 270 victims.
Under an almost cloudless sky, Guyana began the day on 319-3 and quickly lost overnight batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul when the test left-hander and Guyana captain was trapped LBW to Peter Ongondo after adding just 12 to his overnight 63.
Chanderpaul, who added 158 with Sarwan for the fourth wicket, reached the boundary six times in his 123-ball innings of 75 which lasted 168 minutes and his demise left Guyana on 334-4 fifteen minutes into the second day.
Daesrath (6) was then caught and bowled by 19-year-old Kenya under-19 captain Aga at 383-5 while the elegant Sarwan departed at 396-5 just before lunch as the Kenyans restricted the Guyanese scoring with defensive bowling on the fast outfield.
With the crowd, which later included the contestants for the Miss Mash International contest, urging him on, the 23-year-old Sarwan looked anxious to reach his second double-ton at any level and after being kept on a tight reign drove at a wide ball and provided Collis Obuya at point with an easy catch much to the delight of bowler Aga, who ended with 4-71 in his first major spell in his fourth first class game.
By lunch Guyana had reached 399-6 but had not scored as quickly as they would have wanted in the first session as the 2003 World Cup semi finalist showed their experience in one-day style cricket.
Sarwan, whose only double hundred was for GCC against Police at the club level, reached the boundary 22 times and cleared it twice in his fine innings which lasted 485 minutes and 345 balls before he lost his concentration, and wicket after earlier hitting Ongondo for four fours in the second over with the new ball.
After lunch Mahendra Nagamootoo (9) and Neil McGarrell (9) fell in quick succession to leave the home team on 412-8 as the run rate dipped as the batsmen struggled to get the ball away.
Vishal Nagamootoo hit two sweetly timed fours but when on 11 and looking set for a big score, called Zaheer Mohamed for an impossible to point and was run out by nearly half the length of the pitch at 425-9.
Last man Rayon Griffith (9) and Mohmamed (9 not out) tried to pick up the tempo before Griffith was bowled by Martin Suji as the Guyana innings closed at 1:47 PM.
Suji (2-53) and off-spinner Steve Tikolo (2-78) supported Aga with the ball for Kenya who are badly missing the services of their leading wicket taker in the competition- Maurice Odumbe- nursing a toe injury.
Guyana struck early when Kenya began their reply when Kennedy Obuya, the elder brother of Collis Obuya, and Kenya's leading run scorer with 449 runs, was trapped LBW to Daeasrath who then knocked out the off stump of Aga with a perfect inswinging yorker to leave Kenya on the ropes.
Brijal Patel and skipper Tikolo staged a recovery and took the score to 82 before two wickets fell for no run as Nagamoootoo struck.
Patel played some handsome shots in his 59 from 154 minutes and 140 balls and his majestic cover drives even had the local fans on their feet as he reached the boundary nine times in his first half-century at this level.
Tikolo who played the supporting role in the 57 run third wicket partnership, made 22 before Nagamootoo, bowling with alot more variety than he did in the early rounds, made the break through with a double strike.
Hitesh Modi (0) was caught and bowled by the Berbican while Patel was also removed by the rejuvenated leggie at 99-5 as Guyana took control.
Collis Obuya (9) and Francis Otieno (30 are the not out batsmen as Kenya resume today trying to avoid the follow-on infront of what should be the largest crowd of the match.
Nagamootoo has so far taken 3-30 and Daesrath 2-19 as skipper Chanderpaul again showed very competent leadership on the field as he employed his five front line bowlers wisely yesterday afternoon.
SCOREBOARD
Guyana 1st innings (o/n 319-3)
R. Sarwan c&b Aga 199
S. Chanderpaul LBW b Ongondo 75
D. Daesrath c&b Aga 6
M. Nagamootoo c Onyanob b Tikolo 9
V. Nagamootoo run out 11
Z. Mohamed not out 9
R. Griffith b Sugi 9
Extras (nb-33, b-8, lb-6, w-2) 49
Total 444 all out
Fall of wickets- 334, 383, 396, 400, 412, 425, 444.