Bramble hundred, Rutherford cameo floor hapless Pride

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Anthony Bramble’s second first class hundred underlined Guyana Jaguars’ dominance, and a late strike by seamer Raymon Reifer left Barbados Pride with a mountain to climb in their third round match of the Regional Four-Day Championship here Saturday.

The right-handed Bramble stroked an unbeaten 130 as Jaguars piled up a massive 548 all out in their first innings on the second day of the high-profile fixture at Kensington Oval.

Reifer struck 75 while 20-year-old Sherfane Rutherford reminded of the reasons why he was recently snapped up in the Indian Premier League by smashing an exhilarating 54 from a mere 43 balls.

To add insult to injury, Clinton Pestano and Veerasammy Permaul both scored 32 at number 10 and 11 respectively, as Jaguars rammed home their advantage against the star-studded hosts.

In reply, Pride ended the day on 33 for one, after left-armer Reifer had left-hander Shane Moseley caught at midwicket for 15 off what turned out to be the day’s final delivery.

Heading into day three, Pride find themselves still requiring a further 515 runs to make up the deficit.

Resuming the day on 319 for five, Guyana flourished thanks to the overnight pair of Bramble and Reifer, who extended their sixth wicket stand to 157 before being separated.

Bramble, starting the day on 51, reached 85 at lunch before passing triple figures early in the second session. All told, he batted 208 deliveries in 5-½ hours at the crease and stroked 17 fours and a six.

His hundred was the second of the innings, following on from opener Chandrapaul Hemraj’s 144 off 172 deliveries on Friday’s day one.

Reifer, unbeaten on 53 overnight, struck 13 fours off 121 balls in a shade over three hours at the crease, before falling to a catch at mid-off by captain Shamarh Brooks off off-spinner Roston Chase.

Rutherford arrived to attack from the outset and was unbeaten on 47 at lunch with Jaguars well poised on 426 for six. He put on an invaluable 73 off 68 deliveries with Bramble and had struck five fours and three sixes when he stumped off off-spinner Ashley Nurse, Pride’s best bowler with four for 122.

When Romario Shepherd was run out in the next over with Jaguars on 446 for eight, there were hopes Pride could quickly run through the tail.

But Pestano added 47 with Bramble for the 10th wicket and Permaul put on a further 55 for the last wicket, to multiply Pride’s frustrations.