Nagamootoo Set to Shatter Bowling Record
Thu, Apr 4, '02
A biting post-lunch tandem of spin bowling from Carl Hooper and
Mahendra Nagamootoo put a spoke in the wheel of Jamaica's early
advance on the opening day of the Busta Shield finals at Sabina
Park.
Nagamootoo, the right-arm leg spinner led all bowlers with 43
wickets in this year's regional competition, grabbed four for 71 as
Jamaica struggled to 229 for six at the close. It was a
disappointing finish to a day's play that was earlier dominated by
openers Chris Gayle and Leon Garrick.
The right-left combination of Gayle and Garrick put on 102 for
the first wicket and completely dominated the opening session with
some fine shots off the Guyanese pacers but once Gayle (41) fell,
going for a big shot off Nagamootoo, things slowed to a crawl.
Wavell Hinds joined Garrick and the two immediately struggled as
Nagamootoo and Hooper applied the pressure. Garrick (36) went next,
driving at Nagamootoo to be well-caught at cover by Hooper. Keith
Hibbert, surprisingly promoted to bat at number four, was even more
at sea to the spinners.
It could have been much worse for the Busta Cup champions, were it
not for some terrible fielding from the visiting Guyanese. To put
things in perspective, extras top-scored with 48 with wicket-keeper
Azib Ally-Haniff having a forgettable day, allowing 20 byes. There
were 14 leg byes and 14 no-balls.
There were also three key dropped catches, two by Azeemul Haniff
and one by Sewnarine Chattergoon under the bat.
But, the Guyanese could also be counting their good fortune when a
muted appeal from Hooper for a catch at the wicket brought an
affirmative decision from umpire Billy Doctrove. Television replays
showed the ball clearly missing Wavell Hinds' bat.
Nagamootoo, meanwhile, was having his own way with the batsmen,
consistently beating Hibbert's batting and inducing airy-fairy
shots. He accounted for Jamaica captain Robert Samuels, plumb lbw
to a full toss for 34 and had Ricardo Powell caught by Neil
McGarrell for a duck.
His four-wicket haul takes his tally this season to 47, one short
of Rajendra Dhanraj's record of 48 wickets.
Hooper finished with one for 28 from 22 miserly overs while
left-arm orthodox spinner Neil McGarrell bowled 19 overs for 16
runs.
After sneaking into the finals when rain ruined the run chase of
the Leewards Islands at Albion in the semis, Guyana is now well
placed to lower the boom when play resumes Friday with Gareth
Breese and Ryan Cunningham at the wicket.