GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – West Indies batsman Jonathan Carter rescued Barbados Pride with his 14th first class half-century but perished in the day’s final over to squander his good work and leave Guyana Jaguars as favourites to win the third round Regional First Class Championship game here Sunday.
Forced to follow on by 233 runs after they were dismissed in their first innings for 104, Pride finished the day on 166 for three – still requiring a further 67 runs to avoid an innings defeat at the National Stadium at Providence.
Carter stroked an enterprising 89 but with a century in sight on Monday’s final day, top-edged a pull at a long hop from part-time bowler and captain Leon Johnson and was taken close in by Vishaul Singh.
The dismissal was a huge blow for Pride and was a disappointing end to an innings which lasted 225 balls, just over 4-1/2 hours and included 12 fours.
After debutant Kemar Brathwaite perished cheaply for 15, lbw to left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul at 20 for one before lunch, Carter anchored two crucial stands to repair the Pride innings.
Firstly, he put on 62 with opener Kyle Corbin, who made 24, in a partnership which guided the visitors to 38 for one at lunch.
Unbeaten on 11 at the break, the right-handed Corbin spent 106 balls and two hours at the crease before attempting to go over the top with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and falling to a catch at mid-off by Shimron Hetmyer.
The in-form Shamarh Brooks then combined with Carter to post a further 84 for the third wicket, a partnership that denied Jaguars any further success in the session and took Pride to tea at 112 for two.
The left-handed Carter, in his first game since returning from the tour of Sri Lanka, reached his half-century just before tea when he punched Motie to the cover boundary.
Brooks, meanwhile, has so far batted 120 balls and 182 minutes for his unbeaten 30 which has contained four fours.
Earlier, Pride lost their last six wickets for 44 runs to concede a large first innings lead to Jaguars.
Resuming the day on 60 for four, Pride lost debutant Mario Rampersaud after he had added four to his overnight nine, caught at first slip by Johnson off Permaul.
His dismissal triggered a slide which saw four wickets fall for four runs in the space of 18 balls, as the innings collapsed spectacularly.
Motie finished with three for 19, Permaul, three for 41 while off-spinner Steven Jacobs picked up two for 18.