Rajah demise leaves Red Force with all to do on final day
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Isaiah Rajah notched his second half-century in his third Regional Four-Day game but perished in the day’s final over to leave Trinidad and Tobago Red Force with the daunting task of saving their fourth round game against reigning champions Guyana Jaguars yesterday.
At the close of yesterday’s rain-hit penultimate day at the National Stadium here where only 48 overs were possible, Red Force were perched on 96 for two but still requiring a further 120 runs to make the hosts bat again.
The left-handed Rajah, who made his first class debut last month, stroked an enterprising 63 off 116 balls in 141 minutes, with eight fours and one six.
He combined with opener Kyle Hope (20 not out) in a second wicket stand of 93 which pulled Red Force around from three for one when Imran Khan was lbw to fast bowler Keon Joseph for three in the third over of the innings.
Rajah, who made 69 on debut against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queen’s Park Oval, reached his second half-century of the season by driving left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie to the cover boundary.
The partnership appeared set to take Red Force strongly to the close when Rajah was caught at the wicket off leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul off the first delivery of the day’s final over.
Earlier, Jaguars lost their last four wickets for 21 runs to be dismissed for 378 in their first innings.
Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul, unbeaten on 141 overnight, added two runs while wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble converted his 18 not out at the start into 33.
Leg-spinner Imran Khan picked up four for 78 while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre claimed three for 50. JAGUARS 1st Innings (overnight 357 for six) R Chandrika c wkp Katwaroo b Richards S Hetmyer c Cariah b Jagessar *L Johnson c Primus b Mohammed Vishaul Singh lbw b Khan S Chanderpaul c Ottley b Imran Khan 143 C Barnwell lbw b Pierre 3 R Reifer lbw b Imran Khan 38 +A Bramble c Cariah b Imran Khan 33 V Permaul c Mohammed b Pierre 2 G Motie st Katwaroo b Pierre 2 K Joseph not out 0 Extras (b8, lb3, w1, nb7) 19 TOTAL (all out, 108.2 overs) 378 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-45, 3-94, 4-235, 5-243, 6-332, 7-369, 8-374, 9-378, 10378. 12 31 69 26 Bowling: Richards 13-2-53-1, Primus 90-43-0, Jagessar 28-7-99-1, Imran Khan 24-1-78-4, Mohammed 15-2-44-1, Pierre 19.2-2-50-3.
RED FORCE 2nd innings K Hope not out Imran Khan lbw b Joseph I Rajah c wkp Bramble b Permaul K Pierre not out Extras (b4, lb1, w1, nb4) TOTAL (2 wkts, 41 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-96. Bowling: Joseph 7-3-22-1, Reifer 3-0-80, Motie 15-5-40-0, Permaul 9-6-6-1, Johnson 2-0-10-0.
20 3 63 0 10 96
Position: Red Force trail by 120 runs. Toss: Red Force. Umpires: N Duguid, C Taylor.