GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – West Indies Under-19 skipper Shimron Hetmyer struck his maiden first class hundred here Friday as Guyana Jaguars took a huge step towards retaining their Regional four-day title.
Playing on the opening day of the final round encounter at the National Stadium, the 19-year-old Hetmyer carved out an attractive 107 – an innings that propelled the leaders and defending champions to 297 for four at the close against Jamaica Scorpions.
Test opener Rajindra Chandrika weighed in with 76 to break out of his slump while captain Leon Johnson extended his excellent form with an unbeaten 58.
Leg-spinner Damion Jacobs was the best Scorpions bowler with two for 63.
Entering the final round seven points ahead of second placed Barbados Pride, Jaguars batted in partnerships to ensure there were no hiccups which would injure their title hopes.
Chandrika and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (21) provided a solid start when they added 80 for the first wicket.
The right-handed Chandrika, with just 44 runs in his last four innings, faced 163 balls in just over 3-1/2 hours at the crease and counted 13 boundaries while Chanderpaul lasted 104 deliveries, 139 minutes and hit two fours and a six.
They took Jaguars to lunch at 73 without loss before Chanderpaul fell in the second over after the break, lbw to Jacobs.
Hetmyer then inspired two successive half-century partnerships to put Jaguars firmly in command over the next two sessions.
The left-hander, who presided over West Indies Under-19s’ success at the recent Youth World Cup in Bangladesh, put on 76 for the second wicket with Chandrika and a further 87 for the third wicket with Johnson.
All told, Hetmyer struck 15 fours and a six in an innings spanning 135 balls in a shade under 2-3/4 hours.
He was unbeaten on 68 at tea with Jaguars on 182 for two and reached three figures inside the final hour after the break, off just 127 deliveries.
Hetmyer was eventually bowled by part-time off-spinner Jermaine Blackwood at 243 for three but Johnson and fellow left-hander Vishaul Singh (22) put on 42 for the fourth wicket to consolidate Jaguars’ strong position.
Johnson has so far faced 127 balls and hit three fours and a six.
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Scores:
JAGUARS 297 for four (Shimron Hetmyer 107, Rajindra Chandrika 76, Leon Johnson 58 not out; Damion Jacobs 2-63) vs SCORPIONS.
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JAGUARS 1st Innings
T Chanderpaul lbw b Jacobs 21
R Chandrika c and b Jacobs 76
S Hetmyer b Blackwood 107
*L Johnson not out 58
Vishaul Singh b Brown 22
D Bishoo not out 1
Extras (b1, lb2, w1, nb8) 12
TOTAL (4 wkts, 93 overs) 297
To bat: R Reifer, C Barnwell, +A Bramble, V Permaul, G Motie.
Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-156, 3-243, 4-285.
Bowling: Dawes 9-1-22-0 (nb4), Brown 15-2-58-1 (nb2, w1), Thomas 12-3-30-0 (nb1), Jacobs 26-6-63-2 (nb1), Bulli 10-1-52-0, McCarthy 3-0-11-0, Campbell 16-0-50-0, Blackwood 2-0-8-1.
SCORPIONS– Paul Palmer (captain), John Campbell, Shacaya Thomas, Andre McCarthy, Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Thomas, +Aldaine Thomas, Damion Jacobs, Jason Dawes, Dennis Bulli, Gavon Brown.
Toss: Jaguars.
Umpires: Shannon Crawford, Leslie Reifer Jr