HAVING reached 66 without loss at lunch, the Leon Johnson-led National XI were 139 for 4 at tea before declaring their innings closed at 203 for 9 at the end of the first day of their practice match against the Reserve XI at the Guyana National Stadium, yesterday.At the close of play the Reserve XI, who lost Royan Fredericks (4) who was bowled by Ronsford Beaton (1 for
in the first over, were 11 for 1 with Robin Bacchus on 4, which was struck off Beaton through mid-on, and Rajendra Chandrika 0.
Opting to bat first in sweltering heat and on a track that offered support to both the fast bowlers and spinners, Assad Fudadin (41) and Sewnarine Chattergoon (37) survived some testing times from Seon Daniels (1 for 21) and Raun Johnson up to the lunch interval.
Even the left-arm medium pace of Randolph Knights called for careful negotiation from the left-handed pair, while Zaheer Mohammed (1 for 26) toiled away from the Pavilion End, offering excellent support to the fast bowlers.
Chattergoon got boundaries off Johnson and Daniels, but after lunch he toyed at one from Knights outside his off stump and picked out Robin Bacchus at gully point in the second over after the lunch interval at 68 for 1, followed by Johnson who feathered one through to Jason Sinclair also off Knights 10 runs later.
Chandrapaul Hemraj joined Fudadin and pushed the score to 116, before a sedate-looking Fudadin wandered out of his crease to a Mohammed delivery and was brilliantly stumped by Sinclair.
The hard-hitting Christopher Barnwell (12) picked out Royan Fredericks at point off Daniels in the final over before tea which was taken with the National XI on 139 for 4, with Hemraj on 33 and Anthony Bramble 1.
After tea, Bramble was caught by Ricardo Adams at mid-on off Jonathan Foo, who also removed Hemraj via lbw for 39 (119 balls, 3×4) leaving the National XI on 166 for 6 and despite an entertaining 29-run seventh-wicket partnership between Devendra Bishoo (12) and Veerasammy Permaul (17), they were both dismissed within the space of two balls by Foo (3 for 23) and Ivan (2-0) respectively.
The National XI innings declared their innings closed at 16:42hrs when Keon Joseph was caught at cover point by Daniels off Rajiv Ivan for 1, leaving Beaton unbeaten on 3 and their team on 203 for 9 off 84.5 overs, in the face of some disciplined bowling from the Reserve XI.
Play will resume at 10:00hrs, when the Reserves XI, who are being led by Chandrika, continue their reply, needing another 193 for first innings point
Written By Calvin Roberts
guyanachronicle.com